week 8

This weeks blog is about iPod use in the classroom. On Apple's website, they list a variety of possible uses for the device which was previously mainly used as a mp3 music storage and playback device. One of the proposed uses involves using it a recording device to interview people about life experiences for a oral history report. Another of the uses is to use the device to record a conversation in the foreign language the students are learning in class.
Duke university is one of the flagship universities to jump on the use of this new technology. The freshman class of 2004 were all issued an iPod at registration at no charge. The program said to cost the school $500,000 includes the iPods themselves, an academic computing specialist and grants for the faculty members who participate. This device has turned out to be a very handy tool for the students. Students downloaded a specially created calendar of the athletic events on campus. Several students enabled the hard drive function of the iPod to back up their personal computers or to transport large files between computers. Even the rowing team got in on the action by using them to hear the calls of the captains during practice. This is a very interesting subject and i can't wait to see what comes of it.