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ACU Demonstrates the iPhone in Education
Abilene Christian University, in the Great State of Texas, has released a video demonstrating some of the educational and even social uses of the iPhone in a university environment. While the video demonstrates amazing potential, it sends mixed feeling to me.
Upon first seeing this video, I felt the implications of having a community literally being connected 24/7 were absolutely groundbreaking. Changing your classes on-the-fly to receiving important announcements from your professors instantly. These applications can ease the burden for those on both sides; the students and the faculty. This one of the amazing sides of the iPhone. It demonstrates that the iPhone really isn’t a phone but a platform for future development. Just as David Pogue of the New York Times said, “You’re witnessing the birth of a third major computer platform: Windows, OS X and iPhone.”
“You’re witnessing the birth of a third major computer platform: Windows, OS X and iPhone.” - David Pogue
However, after the video was done I also had a second reaction. That is the uneasiness that can come from being so dependent on technology. What if all of the iPhones were to break? What would the students do? I guess ACU (and other universities who would place a dependence on the iPhone) would simply have to cancel classes. I deeply hope that we don’t rely on technologies such as these for every second of our lives, but use them as a tool to better our lives. I love technology, but it truly scares me when people place their entire lives on a single device. If there is one thing I can say to future iPhone users, such as these, it would be: Please keep in mind that the iPhone is an amazing tool, but you need to remember that it’s simply a tool, not your life.
The iPhone, as noted throughout Steve Jobs’s WWDC Keynote, will have profound effects on the future of technology. This is one of the many that will come. Now we look to the next months to see what other amazing implications this device can have.
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3 comments for “ACU Demonstrates the iPhone in Education”
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It is just a matter of time and development… Let me put this in perspective of other similar concerns from educatioal technologies of the past:
“Students today can’t prepare bark to calculate their problems. They depend upon their slates which are much more expensive. What will they do when their slate is dropped and breaks? They will be unable to write.” –Teachers Conference, 1703
“Students depend upon paper too much. They don’t know how to write on a slate without getting chalk dust all over themselves. They can’t clean a slate properly. What will they do when they run out of paper?” –Principals Association, 1815
Humorous as those quotes are, they were once legitimate concerns of the day - just as yours is now. Leading edge technologies are fragile, but in time, society and the technology adapt to overcome the risks. Experimentation is necessary for progress. Sure there will be failures, but small scale failures eventually lead to large scale success.
I agree, and this has been a consistent message to our faculty. Like many other universities, ACU has been a Blackboard campus for some time, but Bb is only a gateway to content or discussions with other students. The tool isn’t the focus of the course, simply the avenue to learning.
Thanks for your thoughtful post.
@George I agree that experimentation and innovation is a necessary part to the evolution of our society. However, depending or becoming dependent on just one method, as advertised in the video, can become dangerous. It takes a balance methods. Think of the way we are expanding our energy production in the United States. We are trying to move away from oil because of the dangers due to being too dependent (among others). Thanks for commenting.
@kd Thanks for your comment. I have used Blackboard; my opinion on it could be an entire other post.