Filed under: iPod Family, iPhone
University handing out iPhones to freshmen
Abilene Christian University is announcing a pilot program to provide an iPhone or iPod touch to every new student. At first glance, I found myself wondering: if some colleges are providing MacBooks with tuition, doesn't an iPhone seem like a less-expensive attempt to lure new blood? Upon further consideration, I think there are some distinct advantages to a pocket-sized device in a learning environment. From constant connectivity to ultra-portability, it could provide a means for every student to access learning materials any time, from any place.
ACU has obviously considered this, and then some. With apparently well-coordinated plans to take advantage of the devices – including podcasts, mobile-accessible class materials, active-learning strategies and a re-focusing of the campus media – they're preparing to take maximum advantage of the iPhone/iPod touch possibilities. If it's a gimmick, it sure seems like a useful, well-thought-out one. For more information, case studies and future plans, take a peek at the ACU Mobile Learning page.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jrflesch said 9:38AM on 2-27-2008
Is that a Parallels icon in the Doc of that phone??????
Whaaaaaat?
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Jeffrey Kirk said 9:43AM on 2-27-2008
Yes! How cool is that? I'm proud of the old alma mater! Now, why do they always wait until we're out of school before they start doing things like this?
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Mimi said 10:11AM on 2-27-2008
As a prof I guess I am not so happy with some students ability to cheat more efficiently.
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Coolish said 10:32AM on 2-27-2008
The video they did is VERY cool! http://www.acu.edu/connected.
It shows how they want to use it in the classroom. I wish my classrooms were like that.
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artifex said 10:29AM on 2-27-2008
If they're giving iPhones to students, is it possible they're acting as a reseller for AT&T, and getting residuals from the service contracts students sign?
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Nathan said 10:56AM on 2-27-2008
I wish FSU would do that...for upperclassmen =p
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Nathan said 11:04AM on 2-27-2008
I just watched the video...if they could actually achieve the amount of integration they are portraying, higher education will be revolutionized from the student's viewpoint
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rich facial said 11:16AM on 2-27-2008
Are they loaded with Christian Rock?!?!
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Saxon said 11:33AM on 2-27-2008
So essentially they're forcing you to buy an iphone to attend school.
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vincentreusch said 12:09PM on 2-27-2008
Amen to Saxon's comment. The title "handing out" is a bit misleading. I once taught at a school that implemented a mandatory IBM Thinkpad policy, the cost of leasing tacked on to tuition, the dean telling us "professors/instructors" that we should find uses for the computer in the classroom. In other words, he was telling us to create a need to justify the policy, a policy clearly aimed directly at marketing, attracting students, and then spun as an educational enhancement.
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paul said 12:49PM on 2-27-2008
What a waste of money. As if tuition isn't expensive enough already.
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mark said 1:43PM on 2-28-2008
FreshMEN. Plural of fresh-man is fresh-men, same way you pluralize man and men.
Unless one kid is getting thousands of 'phones. ^_^
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Brett Terpstra said 1:44PM on 2-28-2008
So true. I definitely need to double-proof when writing pieces at 4 in the morning...
atothej said 11:23AM on 3-03-2008
so are they making their campus wifi iPhone accesible, too? I hear that you can't connect to an wpa/enteprise network, yet which is what most universities are using. an iPod touch or iPhone without the possibility to use wifi on campus would be pretty useless...
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