I know some of you may have you iPhone or iTouch and that is great. I use my iPod all the time when I am working out and my next laptop will be an Apple. The topic for this blog comes from USA Today and an article they did on colleges providing free electronic devices to students as a way to stay connected with them and expand the role of technology in all the areas of Higher Ed.
At Abilene Christian University all incoming freshman receive a free iPod Phone or iPod Touch. The University can then connect to students when they miss class by Podcasting the lectures or in some cases conduct two podcast classes and one on campus class that might pertain a lab. According to Kathleen Gray, “Faculty, for the most part, see technology as a way to better connect to students in their interactive, multitasking, apps-ready world”. It should be noted that students do have to pay for the monthly charge for those devices.
Another popular item being used in Higher Ed is the Kindle, a reading device from Amazon. It can hold over 200 titles, is wireless, and sells for about $149. Mike Kenney, a chemistry professor at Case Western, says, "It is possible to have an entire academic career with you at all times”. You pay half as much to download material to read as you would purchasing a textbook. Just think of the money we could all be saving. We could use that money for Happy Hour after work or for a vacation after we graduate from VCSU.
On the other hand, maybe technology isn’t for everyone and maybe students should spend less time online and more time physically interacting with classmates in live debates or lecture halls. I mean it has built relationships and does if the Professor a chance to ask questions to students instead of waiting for an email. Other concerns are that cheating is taking place and students are more interested in checking their Facebook page then listening or viewing online lectures. We all know how difficult it can be to focus and set aside time to complete our own homework online. By giving students the option to listen to a Podcast can parents be assured that little Jonny is getting the best education and his money's worth? I would sure hope so.
Personally, I can see both sides to this issue after completing my last project on the Millennials. They love technology and are good at it so why not embrace it and work with them to learn more and be more creative. I also see that cheating online does take place, cell phones go off in class, and iPods are in the hears of every student, so very little talking is going on in the hallways and at the Student Union.
Do I think colleges should provide free iPods and iPhones to them? Not, at the cost to school but if a grant is rewarded or the students want to pay for it then they should be able to try it.
My college does offer Podcasts, online classes, IVAN, video lectures, and about any other “new” thing that comes along. Many Professors haven’t jumped on the bandwagon but as time goes by more are taking part in the programs. Our President is big on technology and trys very hard to show the upside to the generation we are now teaching-connecting to them is his theme.
Do you think colleges should use technology to teach or should students learn in the classroom? Or both? What would want your child do?
Why restructure? Does it really do anything?
-
Restructuring Under NCLB Found Not to Really Do Much
This week's final post comes in under the NCLB act. As you know from
previous posts, I am very pessimi...
15 years ago
I have to say right off the bat that I really miss the conventional classoom. I have only taken class online now for 7 weeks, but I have already decided that I am "old school" for sure. I am pre Generation Y, but post Baby Boomer. I am not against technology, but it would be hard for me to go completely hi-tech. I think it is pretty cool though that Abilene Christian University gives tech gadgets to incoming freshman. Cheating is the first thing that comes to my mind with all this stuff out there. I had to laugh at the comment you made about kids with ipod ear buds in their ears walking down the halls. I personally can't stand that. It drives me nuts to see that. I remember years ago when I got my first 'walk-man'. I brought it with somewhere in the car with my mom and she had a royal fit because I had my headphones on and didn't talk to her. It is such a conversation crippler now-a-days.
ReplyDeleteI would want my child to receive the best education possible so if that meant incorporating many different facets of conventional and high-tech I would be all for it.
Great topic this week! I really enjoyed it!
Elizabeth Haraseth
You have to wonder if iPod ear plugs will cause them in hears later to have hearing problems. O'yes the good old walkman. I had one two and I thought I was coolest. Thanks for comments.
ReplyDeleteI can see colleges headed in this direction. I've taken many courses online and have adapted to never seeing my classmates or professors face to face. I haven't any experience with Kindle but it appears it would be a huge money saver and the preferred mode of delivery for alot of students.
ReplyDeleteThere is the issue of cheating. I remember at the start of the internet the big issue was buying term papers. Now you can go online and hire people to do any homework you want. I bet I could pay someone to write this blog. I suggest education should proactively put in place measures to prevent just that before they hand out too many portable devices in lieu of face time.
I like your topic because it got me to really think! At first I thought it is so unnecessary for a university to give their students iphones or itouch's because I would think this promotes students to miss class and take away interaction that happens within a classroom. As I was typing that repsonse I realized I am in an online program and it is working great. I talk to my classmates/professor online and it works fine. I am not socially interaciting with my peers but that is not necessary for my current edcuation situation. My final thought on this is if the students would rather learn through technology devices then I say that is ok. If they would rather listen to a podcast in their pj's then sit in a class then that is how they should be able to learn. I know some may disagree but I just realize that is what the generation is nowdays.
ReplyDeleteLast little note, I think the kindle is a great idea. I first saw someone using it on a plane and I think it would be a money saver and more convient. You can have all five textbooks right there and not have to carry them around. I would have loved to use that in college rather than buying textbooks every semester.