Tracy Spicer
Staff Writer

Duke University and Apple Computer, Inc. implemented iPods into the school’s classroom and campus settings. This introduction to the use of technology in higher education intrigued many professors and students at the University of La Verne.

The Apple iPod, a pioneering digital music player, has been considered simply an entertainment device since its debut in 2001.

However, Duke purchased the iPods as “mini-computers for educational uses” for the 2004-2005 school year.

According to Duke, the goal of the iPod First Year Experience, a pilot program, was “to facilitate the use of information technology in innovative ways within the classroom and across campus.”

“Overall, I think students are interested in the latest technology and, as much as possible, we should make use of that in our courses,” said Kathleen Lamkin, professor of music at ULV.

In Fall 2004, each of the 1,650 Duke University first-year students received an iPod, with a 20-gigabyte hard drive.

The 20GB iPod, which normally retails at $299, was pre-charged and equipped with orientation information, such as a greeting from the university’s president and advice from Duke students about campus life, classes and activities.

At the end of the school term, the freshmen will be allowed to keep the iPods.

One hundred-fifty additional iPods were available for upperclassmen to borrow for classes that required the devices.

Students had the ability to download course-related content, recorded lectures, foreign language lessons, audio books and music for their classes through a Duke Web site similar to Apple’s iTunes.

Duke fight songs, academic calendars and various schedules for clubs and athletic events were also available for students to download.

Some of the iPods also came equipped with voice recorders, which allowed students to record notes or lectures.

After an initial review of the program, the university found that the iPods benefited some students in certain courses, but not all.

About one-half of the first-year students were enrolled in classes that used the iPod.

Some students found that the device as an education tool catered only to certain classes.

In addition, some students found the entertainment aspect of the device to be a distraction when attempting to study or to use the iPod as an educational tool.

“In reality, I don’t think many students would use it for what it was intended for,” University of La Verne junior criminology major Jeanne Rolsen said. “Though the idea of making school-related material online is good, I don’t think it’s necessary for all students to get one.”

The iPods were found to be especially useful for the various music and foreign language courses.

“I don’t know that they would be that helpful in terms of taping class lectures, but I could envision their use as a compliment to a language laboratory,” said Ann Hills, associate professor of Spanish at ULV.

“Students could use them to listen to music or other audio tapes in Spanish,” she added.

Lamkin also saw the benefits of the device in the classroom.

“It would certainly be advantageous for music faculty to have the possibility to structure new course and compile a variety of listening materials which they could all have access to on their iPods,” Lamkin said. “I need to investigate all of the possible uses of the iPods, but it seems like something interesting to try.”

Additionally, the iPod was found to be useful for students to conduct and record interviews.

“Podcasting” also became a growing trend and benefit among Duke students during the school year.

This enabled the student to download audio content, such as radio shows, and to listen to the program in their spare time.

“I think that would definitely help students, radio-wise, because it is really important to be able to hear and critique yourself and have others critique your work too,” said senior broadcasting major Antonette Manabat.

“By downloading it, you could critique yourself whenever you want. Also, if other students download it, more people could hear you than if you could just be heard on the air,” she added.

Duke University will continue the iPod Experience program in the 2005-2006 school year. However, the university said it will use the iPods “in a more targeted manner.”

Incoming freshmen and entire classes will no longer automatically receive an iPod.

Rather, iPods will be used only for certain courses based on faculty members’ requests.

Therefore, only students enrolled in the specific classes can own the device and use it through the Duke iPod program.

Apple Vice President Greg Joswiak has expressed that Apple is excited about Duke’s iPod accomplishments in the past year. He also predicted other colleges would follow Duke’s program of using the iPod as an educational tool.

University of La Verne Music Department Coordinator Steven Biondo found his iPod to be useful for his music classes.

“I am already using my iPod for my class sessions and if students had them, they would be listening to the material more,” Biondo said.
“I also use my iPod for music presentations,” he added.

In addition to Apple, other electronic, computer and music-player manufacturers such as Samsung, Dell, Gateway, Rio and iRiver are interested to compete in the college market.

The iRiver iHP-i20, for example, has the ability to play both music and video files. The device also holds more than the iPod.

“I think we as students and teachers, musicians and educators need to use the latest technology as it pertains to the music industry,” Biondo said. “Otherwise you will be left behind.”

Tracy Spicer can be reached at okcomputerfan01@aol.com.