Duke Continues To Adjust iPod Program

from the not-so-free-any-more dept

Mon, May 1st 2006 5:10pm — Mike Masnick

When Duke University first announced plans to give iPods to all incoming students, a lot of people asked what educational benefit the system would have (other than hooking a bunch of students on the Apple device). A year into the program, the University realized that perhaps it really only made sense to offer iPods to students who actually needed them in classes with professors who really wanted to use them for educational purposes. So, they changed their plans and cut back on the program to only offer free iPods to students in classes that would actually use them. This made some sense... but it seems that some people were still asking why Duke should be paying for the iPods (or, rather, why tuition money should be going towards iPods instead of other programs). It appears that the University has adjusted again. The latest revamp of the program has more classes making use of the iPod, but the University is now only willing to loan out the iPods, or offer them at the discounted price of $99. Again, this seems like a step in the right direction. It's great to encourage the use of new technologies in education, but not just for the sake of the technology.

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16 Comments

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Oh Yeah, 1 May 2006 @ 5:14pm

First Post!!!
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Nowlookiehere, 1 May 2006 @ 7:10pm

Ipods @ Uni
Why don't Duke take a leaf out of an Australia university and offer podcasts on those "free" ipods they're giving away? A few uni's in Ozland are podcasting lectures for students to download within an hour of the lesson (video and/or audio). See article: http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,18926798%5E15318%5E%5Enbv%5E,00.html
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Nowlookiehere, 1 May 2006 @ 7:27pm

Ipods @ Uni
Sorry that link truncated, this one works: http://unipodcasts.notlong.com And Oh Yeah this is the first USEFUL post ;)
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nyqos, 1 May 2006 @ 7:46pm

or
why not offer a real piece of technology, like one that supports easier reprogramming, or offers a recording device.
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non stupid person, 1 May 2006 @ 7:56pm

ipod nanos do offer recording genious
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Spelling Nazi, 1 May 2006 @ 9:40pm

Re: ~~non~~ stupid person
You misspelled 'genius', genius.
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jamessavik, 1 May 2006 @ 11:29pm

Duke
Anybody know if the Lacross team was listening to their I-pods? Maybe the defense can claim that they were "pod-people".
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barbas, 2 May 2006 @ 12:42am

aipo
erdam atup us ed sojih sognirg sehcnip onu emnelagery setego naes on dopi nu oreik oy
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Anonymous Coward, 2 May 2006 @ 4:30am

Re: aipo
That was ignorant and your spanish is horrible, gringo.
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RenderingSanity, 2 May 2006 @ 5:08am

You guys make my festering couldren of angst and hatred family look like Leave it to Beaver, I feel so much better about going home tonight, thank you! :)
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Spelling Nazi 2, 2 May 2006 @ 5:26am

couldren = cauldron
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WhoCares, 2 May 2006 @ 11:47am

Technically wouldn't you still be the same Spelling Nazi if you are correcting another individual? The subject may have a two in it, but your name should not change, unless you are a entirely different person. But all in all who really cares?
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Chi-Man, 2 May 2006 @ 12:53pm

I-Peice.Of.Dook
Ok... terrible joke, but seriously. If you're going to be shelling out a peice of equipment, rather than a "stylish" and seemingly common entertainment device, IPod's are not where it's at. There are loads of alternative devices that do these intended functions dramatically better than the IPod. It's just a savage "be-a-cool-school" gimmick, they thought their students would like (and fall for). But I'd react the same way.

"I don't want this crap. If I wanted to get a device that everyone else is getting, I'd get it on my own timm/money. I don't need you fools stripping it from my tuition!"

Plus, IPod's primary function isn't even top notch... but that's an entirely different discussion altogether...

Chi
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Bryan, 2 May 2006 @ 1:04pm

Re: Duke
I guess listening to "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" is better than that microbiology lecture. Then again, maybe that's also what the lacrosse team was listening to. :-)
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Tom, 2 May 2006 @ 4:40pm

I'm confused. Can someone please give me an example of how iPods are used in class?
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David, 2 May 2006 @ 10:06pm

Clarification
I'm a little late, but I thought I'd throw out some answers to those who stumble across this news feed a little late (like myself).

Oh yeah, I'm a sophomore at Duke.

1) Some professors are podcasting their lectures, and this is actually the primary use for them at school. I was personally very thankful I could listen to my Econ teacher give her lecture over at two in the morning before the exam. Without the ipod, she would never have posted it online.

2) They gave out recording devices along with the ipods. So... I suppose the idea was to create miniature, stylish dictaphone/playback devices.

3) I agree that they might have picked a better device to hand out to students. I was part of a small focus group last year who were looking into academic uses beyond the above so that we might better utilize the technology. I don't believe it was particularly effective, mostly because actually maintaining a calendar and contact list on the ipod is a pain (for any Windows user that is... Macs are blessed with the proper tools already). A more suitable device would've been... well... any PDA would've been a better choice.

I think that about covers it.
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