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Students Get iPods as Study Aids

Posted by pudge on from the mmmm-gothic-imagination dept.

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.

9 of 230 comments (clear)

  1. Gothic Imagination course? by rnb · · Score: 5, Funny

    University professors say the gadgets have helped the students think more critically about their Gothic Imagination course.

    That's a lot of Bauhaus and Sisters of Mercy songs.

    1. Re:Gothic Imagination course? by Elequin · · Score: 5, Funny

      My car is so goth it goes "Ankh! Ankh!"

  2. At my school... by strateego · · Score: 5, Funny

    All I get is an education. I don't want that crap. I want my free iPOD. Damn you WCC

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  3. Quote the article.. by Rudy+Rodarte · · Score: 5, Funny

    "I not only use it for class assignments but for personal use as well." I wonder what kind of personal use this dude was talking about? Surely not the 17,000 over the next 3 years kind?

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  4. They don't say... by mental_telepathy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    But I would guess they are getting the phased out 5GB models. A little oversotck magically turned into good PR and some word of mouth sales.

  5. I don't get it... by jonfelder · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm not sure I really see much of a point here. The iPod is a cool gadget and all (I own one in fact), but even after reading the article I don't see the benefit.

    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.

  6. Already in use at BGSU... by heldlikesound · · Score: 5, Insightful

    While not distributed by the school, each Mac has a firewire cable coming out the back that ends attached to the front of the machine. This way students can use their iPods (or other firewire drives) to move large video or graphic files from machine to machine. I wouldn't reccomend actually working off of the iPod for reasons of heat, and simply the fact that they aren't really made for that kind of abuse. However, for moving large files, they are great.

    Oh, yeah, and they hold about 10,000 songs too. That's pretty cool.

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  7. There's a Gothic Imaginiation course??? by JonKatzIsAnIdiot · · Score: 5, Funny
    The universities are in sadder shape than I thought. What does the syllabus look like?
    • It's not your parent's basement - it's a medieval dungeon
    • Appropriate curses to use when your father won't let you drive his Volvo
    • How to prove your individuality by dressing alike

  8. Whoops.... by ewhenn · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...Apple donated about 50 iPods as part of an experimental project...

    There goes profitability for the next 2 quarters.