PINEVILLE — One teacher in Bell County plans to change the way her students learn next year, thanks to a recent technology grant. Jes’Anne Givens, who teaches Spanish and social studies at Pineville Independent Schools, found out she was getting 23 iPod Touches and a laptop thanks to a $10,000 coal severance grant and now plans to put her curriculum on the cutting edge.

“I’m just so excited,” said Givens, who teaches Spanish to high school students and social studies to seventh and eighth grade. “I feel very fortunate to get the first hands on.”

Given hopes to use an a feature of Apple’s new iPod Touch — a handheld touchscreen device that can play music, video, and utilize an infinite number of unique applications from a web browser to a stock tracker — to play podcasts, which is essentially a downloadable audio or video show. Most radio shows are also available in podcast form to be listened to on demand as free podcasts. Givens said she hopes to incorporate Apple’s technology into her Spanish class curriculum and let her students make their own video podcasts.

“I basically want to get into podcasting,” said Givens. “Each student has a Spanish speaking country” assigned to him or her. While students will have a whole period to teach a class about their country, they’ll have about 10 minutes to show their podcast. Givens said the podcast could show what a Spanish-speaking country like Costa Rica is like, from government to travel spots. And because the podcasts will be uploaded to the iTunes music store, other classes and parents of students could download the shows.

Givens said the podcast assignment will teach kids there are different ways to give presentations, “instead of standing in front of a room with a poster.”

“There are other things out there,” said Givens. “They think you do a PowerPoint with everything.”

But Givens said she was surprised that none of her students had utilized podcasts, either as entertainment or educational tools, especially since many own iPods or other mp3 players.

“I was floored,” said Givens. “A majority had heard of them, but a third didn’t know what they were. None had used them.”

And since each student can check out an iPod Touch, Givens also plans to download education applications to the devices, like Spanish language translators, to help the students with their assignments.

The money is coming through the 21st Century Alternative Instructional Material Project, which is designed to teach students using modern technology that students are familiar with and use everyday.

Pineville Independent Schools Superintendent Mike White said the project is “an outstanding technology initiative.”

“[We] appreciate that we are going to give our kids a 21st century” education, said White.

Middlesboro Delegate Rick Nelson agreed.

“There’s nothing more crucial to our future than educating our young people,” said Nelson in a statement, noting that a large portion of local coal severance funding is designated for infrastructure improvements, including water and sewer lines. “Economic development relies on roads, utilities, and an educated workforce. This grant and other [sic] like it will help our students learn, and help all Bell Countians because of that.”

Givens said she’s already undergone extensive training from an Apple expert and has made plans to have her come back to the school and instruct her students. Givens plans to get a headstart on next year’s plans with a technology camp scheduled for June 15-17th, from 8-12 p.m.

Stephen Woodward is a Staff Writer for the Daily News. He may be contacted at swoodward@middlesborodailynews.com.