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iPods Valuable in the College Classroom?

Posted by timothy on from the pencils-considered-dangerous dept.

Infonaut writes "The Christian Science Monitor has an interesting article called When iPod goes collegiate, examining the iPods for students program at Duke University. It seems that while many students and professors find them valuable for classwork, this is America, so questions about intellectual property rear their ugly head: "Do they have permission from the person who wrote the lectures to share it?" asks one IP attorney, referring to lectures recorded on iPods."

5 of 364 comments (clear)

  1. Ummm by stoolpigeon · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The means to record and share recordings of lectures have been around for quite a while. I know back in the dark ages when I was in school, most profs already had policies in regards to this. Why would doing this with an ipod as opposed to a tape recorder be any different?

    --
    It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
    1. Re:Ummm by larkost · · Score: 4, Interesting

      As a kid my parents used to have a subscription and so I grew up reading the 'Monitor. There was a format change, and my parents didn't have the time, so there was a long period where I didn't read it at all.

      Recently though, I happened on a quoting of an article somewhere and read one of their online issues. The next day I got myself a daily subscription to the dead tree edition (mailed to you) and am very happy with the decision. The articles are very well written (very rarely taken from Reuters or the AP), and always very careful about their bias (very unlike most media). And the reporters take the time to understand all of the issues, and don't just repeat the most sensational sound bytes from each side in order to be "balanced".

      Despite being associated with a somewhat fringe church, their reporting is excelent and comprehensive. They do tend to take a non-the-world-is-going-to-end view on things, and there is one clearly marked article that has to do with "Christian Science" (the Curch of Christ, Scientist... wikipedia has a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_scienc e]good article[/url]), but that is sometimes also interesting.

      I say this as a agnostic/atheist. Don't let the name dissuade you from what is probably the best weekday newspaper in the US (the New York Times would also be in the running, but is too much for me). Read one of the PDF papers that they will give you as a trial from their site, or check out some of the articles there.

  2. You Are Not Your Gadgets by Horrortaxi · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Being the Mac, iPod, and gadget in general fan that I am it pains me to say this, but I don't see the point in this. It's cool, but that's all.

    I was in college in the early 90's and recorded my lectures on a $30 tape recorder--and it did me no good. Recording lectures doesn't help everyone. I also didn't have a computer. I had a 3.5gpa though so I did something right.

    Neat gadgets do not make you a good student.

  3. Re:If I paid fees to attend the lecture... by NaruVonWilkins · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Actually, even without paying fees, many universities will let you sit in on lectures. At that point, it's probably considered public domain.

  4. Re:Also as a bargaining tool by kyojin+the+clown · · Score: 5, Interesting
    So, the information the professor gives you is his intellectual property is it? what about the parts he was taught by someone else? if you pass the information on to someone else, is it your IP or the professor's IP?

    at what point does 'learning' become 'IP theft'? something is seriously wrong with the culture at your university, and with society in general, if knowledge is going to be wrapped up in disclaimers and intellectual property rights.

    in fact, it sickens me.