Spring Break
Certain campuses give students iPods, iPhones
Joe Evola, Daily Vidette Staff Writer
Issue date: 9/5/08 Section: News
Certain universities across the country are providing students with Apple iPhones and iPods to improve communication between the administration and student body.
Because iPhones have the ability to be constantly connected to the Internet, they can aid in the notification of class cancellations, delayed buses, campus security threats or simply display the daily cafeteria menu.
"The iPhone would be a good way for teachers and students to interact and possibly eliminate the use of paper altogether," Ryan Pikus, information systems analyst, said.
Some colleges feel that technology can serve a purpose in the classroom as well, with the ability for students to do online research while in class or participate in polling done by teachers.
Students also may prefer to carry around something much lighter than their laptop to store information. Abilene Christian, a college in Abilene, Texas, chose to adopt the new plan after surveying students and finding they did not like hauling around laptops, but always carried their cell phone.
An article by the New York Times suggests having an Internet-ready phone would cause students to ignore classroom instructors.
"Would it change the way things are done in the classroom? Probably," Steve Malinowski, a senior history education major, said. "But it is completely unnecessary."
According to the New York Times, each student who chooses to receive an iPhone must pay for mobile phone service, while the university is the party responsible for purchasing the actual phone. With both sides contributing to the cost, ownership is blurred.
The service contracts that students purchase include unlimited data use, and both the iPhone and iPod Touch connect to the Internet through campus wireless networks.
The University of Maryland, Oklahoma Christian University, Abilene Christian and Freed-Hardeman, located in Henderson, Tenn., are the first four schools taking part as the idea is still in the beginning stages.
Other universities are exploring their options as well. Stanford University has hired a student-run company to design a campus map and directory for the already 700 registered users on their iPhone network. The school is still examining whether issuing the phones to all students is necessary.
In providing iPhones and iPods to universities, Apple will reach more young consumers. The company has not publicly discussed the option of discounts for bulk purchases by educational institutions.
Because iPhones have the ability to be constantly connected to the Internet, they can aid in the notification of class cancellations, delayed buses, campus security threats or simply display the daily cafeteria menu.
"The iPhone would be a good way for teachers and students to interact and possibly eliminate the use of paper altogether," Ryan Pikus, information systems analyst, said.
Some colleges feel that technology can serve a purpose in the classroom as well, with the ability for students to do online research while in class or participate in polling done by teachers.
Students also may prefer to carry around something much lighter than their laptop to store information. Abilene Christian, a college in Abilene, Texas, chose to adopt the new plan after surveying students and finding they did not like hauling around laptops, but always carried their cell phone.
An article by the New York Times suggests having an Internet-ready phone would cause students to ignore classroom instructors.
"Would it change the way things are done in the classroom? Probably," Steve Malinowski, a senior history education major, said. "But it is completely unnecessary."
According to the New York Times, each student who chooses to receive an iPhone must pay for mobile phone service, while the university is the party responsible for purchasing the actual phone. With both sides contributing to the cost, ownership is blurred.
The service contracts that students purchase include unlimited data use, and both the iPhone and iPod Touch connect to the Internet through campus wireless networks.
The University of Maryland, Oklahoma Christian University, Abilene Christian and Freed-Hardeman, located in Henderson, Tenn., are the first four schools taking part as the idea is still in the beginning stages.
Other universities are exploring their options as well. Stanford University has hired a student-run company to design a campus map and directory for the already 700 registered users on their iPhone network. The school is still examining whether issuing the phones to all students is necessary.
In providing iPhones and iPods to universities, Apple will reach more young consumers. The company has not publicly discussed the option of discounts for bulk purchases by educational institutions.
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