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.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-27-2008 @ 9:38AM
jrflesch said...
Is that a Parallels icon in the Doc of that phone??????
Whaaaaaat?
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2-27-2008 @ 9:43AM
Jeffrey Kirk said...
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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2-27-2008 @ 10:11AM
Mimi said...
As a prof I guess I am not so happy with some students ability to cheat more efficiently.
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2-27-2008 @ 10:29AM
artifex said...
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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2-27-2008 @ 10:32AM
Coolish said...
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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2-27-2008 @ 10:56AM
Nathan said...
I wish FSU would do that...for upperclassmen =p
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2-27-2008 @ 11:04AM
Nathan said...
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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2-27-2008 @ 11:16AM
rich facial said...
Are they loaded with Christian Rock?!?!
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2-27-2008 @ 11:33AM
Saxon said...
So essentially they're forcing you to buy an iphone to attend school.
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2-27-2008 @ 12:09PM
vincentreusch said...
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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2-27-2008 @ 12:49PM
paul said...
What a waste of money. As if tuition isn't expensive enough already.
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2-28-2008 @ 1:43PM
mark said...
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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2-28-2008 @ 1:44PM
Brett Terpstra said...
So true. I definitely need to double-proof when writing pieces at 4 in the morning...
3-03-2008 @ 11:23AM
atothej said...
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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