Hi Lauren, We have a bit of experience in this area ;) so here's what I'd recommend: Basic equipment: - microphone attachment that snaps onto the bottom (ideally one that also has a speaker inside. We use the Belkin. The Xtreme mac accessory is more flexible but is more easily broken). - iPod AV cable, to be able to plug the iPod into a classroom projection system or TV for playback of video, audio and photo display - lapel microphone that can be connected through the microphone attachment passthrough, to allow recording without having to hang onto the iPod (makes for less intimidating recording in some circumstances) - (in the absence of classroom playback system) iPod speakers - Bose are high end with great quality, others such as Altec aren't as high end but give good enough quality in most circumstances. - good, basic hard case to protect the iPod Nice to have: - power brick attachment so you can charge the iPod faster than what you get with the USB cable - small, portable ipod speakers Beyond that, there is some software that would be useful to prep materials for iPod use, and an insane array of accessories to meet every possible need and then some, but the basics would take you a long way (I still like the iGuy, although he's kind of outdated now). I hope this helps! Samantha ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Samantha Earp Head, Instructional Media & Language Technology Services CIT Project Manager, Duke Digital Initiative Duke Center for Instructional Technology 919.660.5945 - [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *********************************************** LLTI is a service of IALLT, the International Association for Language Learning (http://iallt.org/), and The Consortium for Language Teaching and Learning (http://www.languageconsortium.org/). Join IALLT at http://iallt.org. Otmar Foelsche, LLTI-Editor ([log in to unmask]) ***********************************************