Students Get iPods as Study Aids 230
WIAKywbfatw writes "Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Georgia has given iPod digital music players to its students to help them with their coursework, as reported by BBC News. Apple donated about 50 iPods as part of an experimental project to illustrate creative uses for the machine, and University professors say the gadgets have helped the students think more critically about their Gothic Imagination course." I wonder if I can write off my new iPod as an education expense.
Time to go back to school (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Time to go back to school (Score:2, Flamebait)
Especially if you think you can deduct this. (Score:2, Funny)
Definitely time to go back to school.
Re:Especially if you think you can deduct this. (Score:3, Funny)
Oh wait... *that* dollar.
At Berklee it's Required.... or at least recommend (Score:3, Interesting)
Creative uses? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Creative uses? (Score:3, Insightful)
If you want to market an MP3 player that uses Linux or some other free OS, more power to you. But to say what you're saying is just blind zealotry. Personally, I don't see a lot of use for an iPod in education (and I say that as a happy iPod owner), but it has nothing to do with religious reasons such as whether it's running an open source OS.
David
Re:Creative uses? (Score:2)
Re:Creative uses? (Score:2, Insightful)
There are plenty of creative uses that can be made of almost any device -- besides writing software. Whether the benefits outweigh the disadvantages is a different issue, and we might be in agreement on that point, but for differing reasons.
David
Re:Creative uses? (Score:4, Interesting)
I'm not certain if its the same university, but I was reading another article on creative uses in education, and they were doing some very cool things. One class set-it up so that the class lecture, curriculum, research, and notes as well as student projects were available for sync-ing. Students could plug there iPod into any number of iMacs in a pre-configured lab, to get all the new lectures. They could then listen/re-listen to lectures as needed. Additionly any new files designated by the instructor were also sync'd to the iPod, and students could place their projects in public folder, were others could download it and view it, listen to it, etc.
It combined using the iPod for as a MP3 player, as well as the hard drive to exchange and port files, media and documents.
Apparently being able to listen to the lecture and discussions more than once, not only improved retention of knowledge, but increased student participation in future discussions, etc.
It sounded as if it made the class much more exciting. Now of course, part of this excitement was probably just from the fact that the instructors had to rethink their entire syllabus, and revise it to actually be used with the iPod, which probably freed them from a lot of the boring standby material. But the fact that students for additional semesters were willing to purchases their own iPods, if they could just take the class, proves the value of the new format.
Gothic Imagination (Score:3, Funny)
--
Re:Gothic Imagination (Score:2)
Can they record? (Score:5, Interesting)
Over all, this is a really cool idea.
Re:Can they record? (Score:5, Informative)
Now, I wonder if the iPod's remote buttons are separate from the internal buttons from the iPod's point of view. If they are, then it should be possible to mod your remote and make it into a microphone that you could use with either hacked iPod software (yeah, right) or the Linux on iPod project. Just write a program that interprets the 'next' button on the remote as microphone data.
Re:Can they record? (Score:5, Interesting)
They way Sony is going, you'll probably have to pay a royalty to play back the lecture; there's always the chance of it being used to acoustically copy CDs.
Go with the old fashioned analog microcassette recorder. The only problem I had with that is getting the mic to actually pick up the lecture, but you'll have the same problem with a digital solution.
Just write a program that interprets the 'next' button on the remote as microphone data.
Yep, I'm sure iPod is capable of picking up pushbutton presses fast enough. Coming from the mic, you'll have PCM data, the lowest that's acceptable for speech will still need 1 megabyte/minute. That's over 100,000 keypresses per second.
Jason
ProfQuotes [profquotes.com]
Re:Can they record? (Score:2)
Re:Can they record? (Score:2)
Anyway, the controls could be elecricly parallel to each other such that the 'play/pause' on the remote is inditinguishable from the 'play/pause' on the iPod case.
As for speed, the guy before you had a very good point. The iPod probably can't sense eno
Re:Can they record? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Can they record? (Score:4, Informative)
I have to admit I chose form over function when I bought my MP3 player, which was the iPod. I spent days reading reviews on cnet.com and a few other sources, compared prices, features, even created a spread sheet of my own so I could compare them quickly at a glance. In the end I decided the iPod just wasn't worth the money vs. the features it had. But I bought one anyway because of the size and sleek design.
Now that I own it, I can't say I'm sorry about my choice either. I'm happy with the product. My only regret is that I didn't wait another 2 months for the new iPods to come out because I think they are quite an improvement. The only bad thing about the new iPod is that they sacrificed battery life for size. The new iPod has a smaller battery and thus wont last as long between recharges. That aside, the even smaller design of the new one combined with some new features made me break down and buy the new one as well. I was dissapointed to see that Apple didn't include an FM tuner. That would be my personal first choice for a new feature to be added. I would also like to see voice recording, FM recording, line in/out on the device itself with the ability to RIP MP3's directly from a stereo without using a computer, more dumb little games, an FM Transmitter, and probably a few other things I'm forgetting. But to put all that stuff in the player would probably make it much larger and wouldn't be worth it to many people who need the ultra slim design of the iPod.
Re:Can they record? (Score:2, Interesting)
Granted most lectures I recorded were not of the caliber necessary for digital recording, I could see how it might be needed in a class such as "Gothic Imagination". Plus, with the tape recorder I could play back the whole lecture in 30mins with the speed-dial
Re:Can they record? (Score:2, Interesting)
This reminds me of an article I read ages ago that said that listening to sped up audio actually helped comprehension and retention of the subejct matter. Can't find a thing about it via google, though.
Re:Can they record? (Score:2)
It'd be excellent for bootlegging live shows if they made a model that could record, although isn't it impossible to copy MP3s off an iPod?
Re:Can they record? (Score:2, Informative)
No. The files just can't be seen from the Mac finder. They are stored in directories name
All you have to do to get songs off the iPod is type:
find . -name "*.mp3" -exec cp {}
and that will copy all the songs from the iPod to
Re:Can they record? (Score:2)
Re:Can they record? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Can they record? (Score:4, Informative)
The interface to a PC is simply a USB HDD, so it can be used with just about any OS, unlike the iPod.
It doesn't run Linux, but there is an open-source replacement firmware available, Rockbox [rockbox.haxx.se].
Re:Can they record? (Score:2)
Re:Can they record? (Score:3, Informative)
Advantages (vs typical MP3 recorders):
- You're not limited by the memory of your little MP3 recorder as you can (at least with Sony models) just pop in a new memory stick.
- most models have VOR capabilities so you only record when there's *something* to record. I would guess most MP3 recorders, since t
Re:Can they record? (Score:2)
Re:Can they record? (Score:4, Interesting)
Recording feature found on new iPods! [macrumors.com]
Gothic Imagination course? (Score:5, Funny)
That's a lot of Bauhaus and Sisters of Mercy songs.
Re:Gothic Imagination course? (Score:4, Funny)
now, you also have to be able to regurgetate the full history of both Christian Death's, in order to pass the class.
this happened after a student finally ended the perpetual debate of whether bela lugosi was dead or undead by producing his skeleton.
Re:Gothic Imagination course? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Gothic Imagination course? (Score:3, Funny)
Oh, that's easy- people listen to Diamanda Galas so they can be pretentious. It's the same reason people claim to listen to Swans before, say, This Burning World.
Heh...I once saw a concert poster from Swans' early days. It said..."Tonight! Live! The Smiths with special guest: Swans!" I tried to picture a venue full of Swans fans and Smiths fans. I laughed so hard that I hurt myself.
Re:Gothic Imagination course? (Score:3, Informative)
For those actually interested:
http://www.faculty.de.gcsu.edu/~rviau/GothicIm.
Re:Gothic Imagination course? (Score:2)
I mean, Goth is something that sprung up long after July 1983, right?
From what I gather, bauhaus weren't dark because they liked the idea of slitting their wrists and longing for the 17th century, but rather because they thought that dub was really cool.
Re:Gothic Imagination course? (Score:2)
Re:Gothic Imagination course? (Score:2)
So, do I win a pen? I'll give you my password
Re:Gothic Imagination course? (Score:2)
I mean "Who actually considers that song to be proto-goth?"
And I don't recall Bart performing that song. I recall Gladys, the organ lady from Rev. Lovejoy's church, being the artist on that one.
Re:Gothic Imagination course? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Gothic Imagination course? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Gothic Imagination course? (Score:3, Funny)
On the other hand [wisc.edu]...
Audio books? (Score:5, Insightful)
A previous story about the Kalishnikov ammo magazine MP3 player led me to http://www.audiobooksforfree.com, a website that has a bunch of books in MP3 format.
Re:Audio books? (Score:2)
ouch.
yeah it's free, but it's free crap.
At my school... (Score:5, Funny)
Quote the article.. (Score:5, Funny)
What I Keep Wondering is.... (Score:5, Interesting)
Knowing Apple... (Score:5, Insightful)
That said, there's no reason the iPod couldn't be hacked, as seems to be happening. (It's not encrypted in any way (that I know of), and therefore not under the guard of the DMCA.) But it would be quite good for Apple to open up just a little bit more.
Re:What I Keep Wondering is.... (Score:2)
Re:What I Keep Wondering is.... (Score:3, Funny)
I think you've been reading too many rumor sites. The "dual processors" in an iPod is a myth. Dunno where you got the "cd burning capabilities" idea from.
Download MP3's Sanctioned By the School? (Score:2, Interesting)
Most Colleges (Score:2, Insightful)
I'm interested to hear what Slashdottians think about this. It does cause obvious problem
Re:Most Colleges (Score:2)
I'm not positive about this, and I'd have to check, but I think that if I played a recording to a deaf person, he wouldn't quite pick up on the things he missed during lecture!
Re:Most Colleges (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Most Colleges (Score:5, Funny)
This would also work for people who don't speak the language in which the course is taught. They could just play it back louder.
They don't say... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:They don't say... (Score:3, Informative)
Seems like a bit of a stretch (Score:2, Interesting)
Seems like a better marketing plan then educational tool.
Let's see (Score:4, Funny)
MP3s, OS X/Office X, Linux...
Cost vs. Benefit? (Score:2, Insightful)
Apple donated the first batch, but they aren't going to keep doing that. Someone has to pay for them at some point.
Re:Cost vs. Benefit? (Score:3, Insightful)
And then there are those of us that earned scholarships and yet aren't bitter about it.
These are pampered rich kids taking a bullshit course called "Gothic Imagination".
This is a public school in Georgia. Last I heard, Georgia has a policy that any students that graduate high school with a B+ average get scholarships to in-state schools. So I'm sure that it's just *packed* with snobby rich kids who wipe their ass with money.
Especially since the school is so damn expensive. I know I wouldn't be able to
I don't get it... (Score:5, Insightful)
The article mentioned that not all people have broadband at home so they can't necessarily download the files easily. Isn't this what campus computer labs are for? Students could just listen to the audio there. You could use usb keys for a fraction of the price and just download the audio files to them. CDRWs would be cheaper still and you could write the audio tracks directly to them.
It would seem to me, that at $500 a piece you could give the students desktops or even laptops. Sure, they aren't as portable or cool as an iPod, but they'll play music along with having many other capabilities.
Already in use at BGSU... (Score:5, Insightful)
Oh, yeah, and they hold about 10,000 songs too. That's pretty cool.
Re:Already in use at BGSU... (Score:4, Funny)
For Todays Field Trip... (Score:5, Funny)
iPods are a write-off (Score:3, Interesting)
How nice of Apple (Score:3, Funny)
Wait until the RIAA hears about this. Talk about a revenue stream!
write it off... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:write it off... (Score:2)
Gothic iPod (Score:5, Funny)
I didn't know iPods came in black.
Re:Gothic iPod (Score:2)
Well, a black iPod [fortune.com] would certainly match the style of Steve Jobs.
--Bud
There's a Gothic Imaginiation course??? (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
go apple! (Score:2)
How's that for an in-your-face response to the recent ligitation/prosecution efforts by the RIAA?
Whoops.... (Score:5, Funny)
There goes profitability for the next 2 quarters.
Write it off as a portable backup device (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Write it off as a portable backup device (Score:3, Informative)
"But listen, I'm first and foremost using the DV Camcorder as a backup device!"
Re:Write it off as a portable backup device (Score:3, Insightful)
"no, look I use this expensive music player to store my secret business formulas. Why is there music on it? So nobody finds the trade secrets. Did you say something about a fine? I don't think I quite understand what you're saying there, mr. agent. What are back taxes now?"
Just remember, people: never trust slashdot tax lawyers.
So, where do I apply? (Score:2, Interesting)
The ideal money-making scheme for the RIAA (Score:5, Funny)
2 - Wait a few months and sue them for all the "illegal" music they have stored there.
3 - Profit! (receive tens of thousands of dollars in settlements)
Recording on Gen 2 (Score:5, Informative)
Nope. (Score:3, Informative)
Of course, the problem is getting the auditor to believe that.
Given RIAA's War Against College Students... (Score:2)
Study AIDS? (Score:2)
[southpark]
How did Jared lose so much weight? He got Aids. And now he wants to help everyone by giving them Aids.
[/southpark]
Shouldn't that be aides?
In other news... (Score:3, Funny)
'I think this Playstation is great!' said one sophmore, 'I'm doing so much better in my Driver Ed class, but I think it's hurt the rest of my studies because I spend all my time playing.'
School officials hope to use the game systems for other classes as well. 'Soon we plan on purchasing 500 copies of Grand Theft Auto 3 as part as our Criminal Law class to demonstrate that crime doesn't pay.' said superintendent Seymour Butts."
And I'm right up the road (Score:3, Informative)
GC&SU is a nice campus - kinda out in nowhere, the campus (mostly old buildings) makes up a lot of the town. They have wireless all over the campus and purposly spills over into surrounding student hot-spots. I think they even have a point-to-point wireless link to the downtown to provide access to students while there.
Nice cafeteria too
Re:High tech tools for education. (Score:2)
Re:High tech tools for education. (Score:3, Funny)
Where do you study, the University of DURRRRRR?
Re:High tech tools for education. (Score:2, Insightful)
By the time all that was added, you wouldn't have an iPod anymore, you would have a sub-notebook.
Re:High tech tools for education. (Score:2)
Not a sub-notebook, more like a small tablet or PDA. The iPod is already capable enough
uhhhh.... (Score:4, Funny)
That's called an iBook.
You're right, good idea though. [k12.va.us]
Re:uhhhh.... (Score:2)
Re:uhhhh.... (Score:2)
Re:Language Education (Score:2)
Re:Whoopty doo (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Whoopty doo (Score:5, Insightful)
The students? None. Apple's the one wasting the money here.
If they had given the iPods to an Embedded Systems class at MIT, and challenged them to find "creative uses" for them, I'm sure we'd see a lot of newsworthy (at least Slashdot-worthy) things. But I doubt this class will find "uses" that we'd give a hoot about.
Re:Whoopty doo (Score:2)
Re:New...or old.... (Score:2)
Sheesh, you're worse than my 5-year old.
Here ya go son, have some cotton candy.
But Daaaaad, that other kid got a bigger one!
--
Re:Gothic Imagination? (Score:2)
Re:Education (Score:2)
*bang*