“Alan reports”:http://www.schussman.com/article/815/headphones-down that
bq. Students in the incoming Class of 2008 at Duke University each “get a brand-new iPod”:http://www.chronicle.duke.edu/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/08/20/412620dfa7d23, to be used, says the university’s IT wonks, as part of a project exploring innovative classroom technologies.
I’m thinking of using an iPod in my graduate seminar this semester. The idea is that the students divide into groups and then buy me an iPod and, um, that’s it. Perhaps also items from my Amazon wish list, for the advanced ones.
As it happens, I do know of a student at Arizona who used an mp3 player as an innovative classroom technology: he was noticed wearing headphones during his final exam and it turned out he’d recorded himself speaking the answers to likely exam questions.
{ 7 comments }
John Quiggin 08.21.04 at 7:35 am
You forgot to link your wishlist! The most advanced students will surely be getting their RSS feeds from your post as I type, and pulling out their credit cards.
eszter 08.21.04 at 11:06 am
I thought about blogging this when the info first came out earlier this summer, but couldn’t quite think of the right angle other than wondering how Apple got away with this given that Melinda Gates is on the Board of Trustees at Duke. By the way, you also forgot to include a link to how your students can get you a free iPod.;) Other than that, your post sums up my sentiments quite well. (Although I await confused reactions given the record of people misunderstanding your humor around here. Should we consider a smiley support group?)
eszter 08.21.04 at 11:09 am
[These links should work.]
I thought about blogging this when the info first came out earlier this summer, but couldn’t quite think of the right angle other than wondering how Apple got away with this given that Melinda Gates is on the Board of Trustees at Duke. By the way, you also forgot to include a link to how your students can get you a free iPod.;) Other than that, your post sums up my sentiments quite well.
Simon 08.21.04 at 2:02 pm
What about the student who recorded his voice?
Was it an open-book exam? If so, I’m not sure I see the problem. If it wasn’t, well, then that’s a whole ‘nother story . . .
Jmote 08.21.04 at 8:03 pm
Maybe I’m just an old fogey, but I don’t quite see how an IPod qualifies as classroom technology. To me, the move by Duke seems akin to the “free toaster” giveaway used for promotional purposes…Come to Duke and get a free IPod!!
alpha 08.22.04 at 12:27 am
“free” just means it’s bundled into your tuition costs. like “free” health care.
Jonathan W. King 08.22.04 at 3:35 am
> I’m thinking of using an iPod in my
> graduate seminar this semester. The idea
> is that the students divide into groups and
> then buy me an iPod and, um, that’s it.
> Perhaps also items from my Amazon wish
> list, for the advanced ones.
Well, that does qualify as an innovative educational strategy for teaching graduate students, but I’m afraid it conflicts with the favored approach in the sciences. Namely, indentured servitude. But this would be progress in some fields, so I say: go for it.
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