“We have come to the conclusion that the crisis Michigan faces is not a shortage of revenue, but an excess of idiocy. Facing a budget deficit that has passed the $1 billion mark, House Democrats Thursday offered a spending plan that would buy a MP3 player or iPod for every school child in Michigan,” The Detroit News editorializes. “No cost estimate was attached to their hare-brained idea to ‘invest’ in education. Details, we are promised, will follow.”
The Detroit News writes, “We wonder how financially strained Michigan residents will feel about paying higher taxes to buy someone else’s kid an iPod. That they would include such frivolity in a crisis budget plan indicates how tough it will be to bring real spending reform to Michigan.”
“The only responsible option is to bring spending in line with current revenues. The mission must be to expand the tax base, rather than to expand taxes, by crafting a budget that encourages growth,” The Detroit News writes. “We won’t get there by wasting money on early Christmas presents for Michigan kids.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: iPods and iTunes can be used effectively for education.
Related articles:
Top 10 uses of an Apple iPod you’d never expect – March 19, 2007
Stanford University puts hundreds of audio programs on Apple’s iTunes Music Store – October 20, 2005
Apple donates 50 iPods to Scotland’s Gracemount High School – October 06, 2005
Fort Gordon’s U.S. Navy contingent buys 700 Apple iPods – September 06, 2006
Pearson to acquire PowerSchool. develop educational iPod content – May 25, 2006
Ohio University chooses Apple’s iTunes U for students and faculty – May 11, 2006
University of California puts video lectures on Apple’s ‘iTunes U’ – April 25, 2006
Duke University to continue Apple iPod program – April 06, 2005
Apple announces two-year partnership with French university on iPod education technologies – March 23, 2006
Apple and Stanford University open ‘Stanford on iTunes’ to the public – January 25, 2006
Private school on Manhattan’s Upper East Side requires Apple iPod – December 08, 2004
Duke University’s iPod program revolutionizing students’ experiences with language studies – December 04, 2004
Duke students’ new 20GB iPods will do more than just play music – July 20, 2004
Duke University to give Apple iPods to all incoming freshman – July 19, 2004
Michigan Democrat: Crud, phase two was an Apple TV. Guess we might brace for some more opposition.
I do have to say that I don’t think that’s a good way to spend the education budget unless they can explain how they intend to use them for education.
Michigan schools have substantial problems. We need to feed our kids breakfast and get them in the classroom before giving them iPods. I agree that iPods could be used in education, but there are too many Michigan students who would ignore or misuse this resource.
Michigan politicians need to get their priorities straight.
Being from Michigan I agree with the Detroit News. The state budget can not cover this expense. They are already cutting local spending and per pupil expenditures so this new expense does not make sense.
What do you expect from TAX and SPEND Liberal Demoncrats?
The automakers are hurting and something like this only encourages them to consider shifting operations to a more tax friendly state or country. Everyone looses.
Kids drop things, the gangs will steal them for sale on eBay.
Stupid demoncrats, get a brain.
What? How?
I can not imagine how an ipod would help k-12 students in any way that could not be done with a nice folder and some paper and pencils.
Please elaborate MDN.
I’m all earbuds…
maybe they should just hire qualified teachers.. I know that sounds crazy.. but as much as I love apple.. iPods are good for teaching only in the correct environment/context.
To be perfectly honest, buying iPods for all those kids would be stupid.
Why are they planning to “improve” the education of their children with iPods, when the actual problem sounds to me like a case of budget problems on the administrative end? Giving the kids a “better” education is a different issue. The kids aren’t the ones spending State money.
More MDN flame bait…
I can not imagine how an ipod would help k-12 students in any way that could not be done with a nice folder and some paper and pencils.
Because it’s an Apple and Steve say it’s wonderful!!! Woooo Hooooo
Anybody that disagrees with Fanboys are “Windows Trolls” Same Apple Fanboy nonsense everyday….
Makes ya wonder what the average age is here at MDN…. I’m guessing 13.
Shut yer pie hole WiseGuy.
Right, it would be much better to borrow and spend like the current administration, and just run up a deficit.
And let’s not forget who gave tax incentives for said industries to relocate in the first place. What a tool you are.
“What do you expect from TAX and SPEND Liberal Demoncrats?”
yeah because the republicans certainly have NEVER wasted any taxpayer money…
All good fortune for AAPL aside, i do think this is a dumb idea. Kids arent’ going to use these for education.
“Right, it would be much better to borrow and spend like the current administration, and just run up a deficit.
Yes, we need liberals in Power!!!! Let’s TAX working people so unemployed crack dealers can have FREE Health Care and Low Cost Housing…..
WOOOOOO HOOOOOOO
I notice the dem’s commenting are nowhere to be found, but I expect a crack any moment now on Bush or something to change the subject away from this pathetic dem legislature in Michigan!!!
Right, it would be much better to borrow and spend like the current administration, and just run up a deficit.
If you know anything about macro-economics, you would soon see the follacy of that statement.
But in short, it’s smarter to capitalize on the available funds from all over the world, which you can pay back later in cheaper dollars because you control the currency. Than it is to rob the very people you support in order to advance your ideals of socialism.
Remember New Zealand which tried socialism? Yea, a short time later they realized their mistake and begged the world for capital to revitalize their economy because nobody worked.
Stupid demoncrats. Feed the kids and pay the bills before entertaining luxury items like iPods.
Stupid demoncrats/religious fanatics = lack of proper well rounded college education
FanBoy
why don’t you read the postings before making a stupid statement,
I did’nt see one posting that thought it was a good idea or made sense,
As far as using an iPod in education- my daughter in university use’s one with an attachment to record lectures, now she is in medical school, and we purchased it, not the taxpayers
The IRONY in most of these statements is that the only US administration to run a surplus over the past 20 years has been a Democratic one.
Other than that, I’d say the plan to buy iPods for schools is plain ridiculous.
“…but I expect a crack any moment now on Bush…”
Because that’s the only thing these uneducated, sheltered life welfare people can pick on.
Demoncrats have never won in a logical argument to support their hair brained therories.
Look at Heraldo Rivera saying the illegal alien who killed two people in a DUI traffic accident after just leaving the local jail shouldn’t have been immediatly deported beforehand.
I mean it’s absolutly stupid of these people to think otherwise.
It cost the lives of two people because the state failed to do it’s job and deport the illegal alien in the first place.
This, and the Michigan iPod thing, goes to show how stupid Liberal Demoncrats are.
Yes there are stupid Republicans too, the bible thumping jesus freaks.
It just seems there are more stupid Demoncrats with stupid policies and politics.
Damm we need a new party.
I assume you also thank Gingrich and the Republican Congress for that? No? Even though they rejected billions and billions of additional Clinton spending that would have kept us in deficit? Still no? Wow, what a surprise…
Kate
P.S. Ipods in schools are probably a waste, especially given MI’s disastrous fiscal condition.
MDN,
I’m a Kool-Aid drinker too… but you are wrong on this one. There has been literally no research on the use of Web 2.0 technologies to support learning. Especially in a K-12 environment.
The idea to purchase iPods or MP-3 players for every Michigan student, is simply nuts!
I’m not wearing any pants.
I can live with ‘Tax and Spend’. It’s just money and I can’t take it with me when I die.
It’s sending 20-year-old Americans into harm’s way for falsely justified reasons and habitually shouting down anyone who questions their bad policy and poor decision making. Their actions and policy are morally wrong and undemocratic. That is unacceptable.
I’d rather they spent $5,617 dollars on a hammer.
New Zealand was once a Socialist Country? I didn’t know that. Sounds like a good history lesson.
I think I’ll do some research on that subject.
Thx Wiseguy.
Also- no ipods till they set their financial house in order. They need to make some tough choices asap or that hole’s just gonna keep getting deeper.
I don’t get how we can get all these hi-tech things, and still our educational system sucks. Look at California. We spend millions on education, and we are down at the bottom in ratings.
We should require teachers to be evaluated every couple of years, and we need to keep the language ENGLISH.
“Stupid demoncrats, get a brain.”
“these uneducated, sheltered life welfare people”
“I mean it’s absolutly[sic] stupid of these people”
“how stupid Liberal Demoncrats are”
If these were attacks on Republicans, you’d be decrying ad hominem attacks, yet you claim that liberals are stupid!
“Everyone looses.” – No, that’s loses. Stupid WiseGuy.
http://www.ufillitup.com has hundred + titles that run using the iPods operating system and include multiple choice question and answer sessions.
Also Merriam Websters Pocket Dictionary for the iPod is in stores and online at ipreppress
Weak take MDN. Obviously these kids will not use iPods for education.
This IS nuts. What % of Detroit school kids even have computers at home? Do they understand how data is loaded on iPods???
You can’t associate/load 50 iPods with one computer in a classroom. Even if you could.. how many hours would it take? Every bloody time they want to add a lesson plan?
Are they giving away computers to go with them?
There are far better ways for an underfunded school system to spend $$.
Liberals are stupid. But back on topic, Michigan has far too many problems these days to deal with. Giving iPods to school kids, although beneficial, has to be way down the list of priorities right now.
ummm..is it me, can others see old iPod adverts? one showing a all white Nano, and the first gen SHUFFLE?
ummm, ok.
Sorry, MDN, but I’m going to have to agree with the author on this one. I live in Texas and we have few billion in the bank and are currently looking for ways to spend it, but I would not be in favor of blowing it all in iPods. Heck, most kiddos have one anyways.
MDW: give; as in “Give me a break.”
And I quote MDN, “iPods and iTunes can be used effectively for education”
So let parents buy them. NOT TAXPAYERS!! For heavens’s sake will MDN stop at nothing in support of Apple. Sick
Yeah, liberals are stupid! They want to teach religious mythology as if it were science, in place of real science! They want to force religion into other parts of our school systems, like prayer, in much the same way the Taliban did in Afghanistan! They want to cede our economic and political power to foreign corporations that destroy our environment and ship our jobs over seas while paying their CEOs hundreds of millions of dollars (http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2007-04-08-oxy-pay_N.htm) all while paying pennies on the dollar to use government land and our military to get their oil!
Oh, wait. That isn’t liberals, that’s Conservatives! Never mind.
@WHere are the Liberals
“I notice the dem’s commenting are nowhere to be found, but I expect a crack any moment now on Bush or something to change the subject away from this pathetic dem legislature in Michigan!!!”
I am a registered dem. One of three dozen in Texas I think. But even I am not this socialist.
Sure, you can use iPods for educational purposes, but giving one to every kid in a cash-strapped school system? Not very practical or thoughful.
The money would be better used buying Macs for computer labs.
I love when Americans start this Republican/Democrat fighting on a computer site.
Kind of makes me want to take my kid to the hospital for free. Just because I can.
Enjoy your war!
The story reminds me of this parody of Apple’s “1984” commercial:
You can imagine which way I lean, and I think that every kid should have a taxpayer-funded iPod…
With some conditions…
Firstly, are we sending our children to school in a fit condition to learn: are they well-fed (on nutritious food that maximises concentration and mitigates blood-sugar lows) and well-supported at home.
Secondly, have we made sure that our schools are fit places for learning.
Thirdly, have we taken political bias and religious dogma out of the curriculum.
Fourthly, have we ensured that – in the absence of “new technology” – our teachers are capable of (and encouraged to) deliver engaging educational programs that excite the imaginations of the students.
Fifth, a pilot study has been done which shows how Michigan’s educators are intending to use this new resource.
Sixth, the results of the pilot have been independently assessed and any flaws in the strategy have been ironed out.
BTW, I’d like to think that – before any of this was even considered – that both the elderly and the young had access to a decent level of public healthcare as a minimum.
Sell me on all of my conditions and you can have your ludicrous iPods – otherwise, Democrat or Republican, you can kiss my creamy white butt.
Yeah, I’m a Democrat too (a proud member of the “Democrat party”) and even I think this is stupid. Michigan is billions of dollars in the hole, schools don’t have enough buses much less technology and textbooks, and an iPod in every pot is only going to mean a deeper hole.
Can iPods be used for education? Yes.
Do iPods provide an education that other methods cannot provide? No.
Wasting taxpayer money is something that is done occasionally by Republicans (see the last Congress), but it something that is habitually and characteristic of liberals, whenever they are in power. Clinton, as we all know, was kept in check by a conservative House. (And the House has the sole power to craft spending bills).
Boulderfrog, you are either not too funny or not too bright. Your “free” health care comes right out of your pocketbook in the form of taxes, charges, levies, and fees. How did you think it was paid for? Seriously.
Conservativism has nothing to say about what companies pay their CEOs. That is a free-market transaction to be handled by the company, the shareholders, and the public, to a lesser degree. That’s the beauty of a non-invasive government. It really has nothing to say about payment of anyone. Contrast that to the concern of liberals over who gets paid and how much — that excessive concern reveals a desire to control. (Remember, if the minimum wage is not high enough for your personal taste, you can always voluntarily pay the cashier more money. Or you’re free to get a cashier fired so that the remaining ones are both overworked and yet still underpaid relative to the amount of work that they do!)
Please, please, please, study up on economics before you start talking about deficits and CEO pay, and such. You really do make liberals sound like a bunch of ill-informed people who are utterly disconnected from the real world — at best — if not downright malevolent.
Sincerely, BT (a conservative if you hadn’t guessed)
MDN missed the boat on this one. These are grade school kids, not college students.
Could you little kiddies stop your fighting for a few minutes and speak to the issue here?
How did Michigan get into this bad state of affairs in the first place? Was it because the students weren’t getting a good enough education? NO! So the fix is not to try to make the classroom better, but to repair the root cause of the problem: No Child Left Behind + bad DOE administration and rules.
Those students should not get iPods, no matter how much we or MDN likes them. They would not help one bit. And as WTF correctly stated, having iPods would be totally distracting to both students and teachers.
MDN: red. As in “CODE RED!”
Ok. There are no reasonable uses for the iPod in k-12 education. I think we all agree on that.
But I would not have necessarily concluded that since the Michigan House Democrats have proposed this, the Iraq war was a good idea. Or that socialized medicine works/doesn’t work, that CEO pay is too high or that I am a moron.
Now I get it.
Thanks!
Conservatism has much to say about CEO pay. Claiming that it’s up to the market is a major statement, and an outright lie at the same time. Markets don’t give 400 million dollars to a single individual in a single year. That’s done by his cronies at the top of the corporate ladder. He’s CEO of an oil company. He and his company make money because the oil oligopolies and their political friends have stymied every attempt to break free of our addiction to oil, and not because their product has any real value. If it had value, they’d be able to pay fair market value for the use of government lands to drill for it, and for the use of government troops to protect their interests. Even more importantly, they wouldn’t fear the introduction of electric vehicles into the market, or serious development of solar power.
You claim that you’re a conservative, but you don’t really want a free market. You want the status quo, no matter how much it hurts America and the world.
I just eliminated Michigan as a state to which I would relocate.
waaaaahhhh. Isn’t Michigan offering BILLIONS in tax credit to get companies to move there. They advertise their BILLIONS available for this purpose.
and this gem…
“The Detroit News writes, “We wonder how financially strained Michigan residents will feel about paying higher taxes to buy someone else’s kid an iPod”
change that to read, “buy someone else’s kid books” or maybe repair a classroom. Or a projector or perhaps clean running water in the faucets.
Sheesh.
mw: had as in don’t be had by the “no more tax” whiners
Giving iPods to the students would be a disaster, especially in the worst schools. It would be rap crap music all day long.
Just because something can be useful does not make that thing wise to acquire. The lack of discipline in our schools is bad enough already, so enough already!
MacDailyNews Take: iPods and iTunes can be used effectively for education.
so can thumb drives. and for a lot cheaper.
I think they feel a zune will be much better.
@ boulderfrog,
I know what you mean. Americans paying for war and not free medicare.
As a Canadian I sure am happy that we have free hospitalization and don’t spend our money on wars.
Oh wait. We are spending billions in Afghanistan killing the Taliban. We wait for hours and hours in emergency rooms. We wait months for cancer treatments. We fly south to the USA to avoid up to 2 year lineups for needed surgeries.
Liberal rule is tax and spend inefficiently. We pay more per capita for medical care than Americans do and the liberals call it free health care. What a laugh.
[o]”…but I expect a crack any moment now on Bush…”
So do I. It’s the only drug he hasn’t smoked.
This would be great if we had the money, but we dont.
The money needs to be spent on otehr things. unless the feds wanna pay for them I’m all for it then.
We pay more per capita for medical care than Americans do and the liberals call it free health care. What a laugh.So how much medicare money is the cheque with your name on it worth from that goose-stepping goofball PM we have now? Oh! Nothing! Quelle surprise.
Americans don’t pay taxes for medicare. They mortgage their houses to pay for hangnail surgery.
WiseGuy: “Because that’s the only thing these uneducated, sheltered life welfare people can pick on.”
So says the guy who refers to “follacy of that statement” and “hair brained therories”. That’s just perfect. Tell you what, kiddo, when you learn to read and write at a fifth-grade level, then we can start talking about macroeconomics.
Wow… I’m all for computers in the classroom, and even more so when those computers are Macs, but this is ridiculous.
Irresponsible waste of tax payers’ money.
@ “@BustingTheSkulls“: Hey, fool — generalize much?
Oil doesn’t have any “real value”? WTF is wrong with you, idiot? “Ooooohhhh, the oil companies make too much money! Oooooh, the oil companies are unfair! Oooohhhh, all the oil companies care about is profits! WAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!”
You are a true moron. Every for-profit company in a capitalist system cares about profits, a–hole. Newsflash: EVEN APPLE. I’ll bet you were also complaining 20-25 years ago when gas was cheap, the per-barrel price of oil dropped through the floor, oil workers were being laid off, refineries were being closed, entire families were being put out of work, oil rigs and platforms were shutting down, and the industry in general was a disaster. Yaah, riiiiiiight. Sure you were.
Uninformed jerks like you have the gall to stereotype and generalize when the “big, bad oil companies” are making money. Heaven forbid that you actually, you know, LOOK AT IT IN CONTEXT and realize that it’s a cyclical industry like anything else. And by all means, GOD FORBID that you actually LEARN about economics — as BustingTheSkullsOfIdiots advised you — and maybe conceptualize the fact that OIL IS A COMMODITY TRADED ON THE OPEN MARKET, DUMBASS!
You are a fool. You have no business being concerned with what other people make. The free market WILL decide such things. That’s why America is such a powerful economic behemoth. And don’t forget, you tool, that oil is part of the economic engine THAT DRIVES THE GLOBAL ECONOMY! There is no current replacement for it that can do the job efficiently. There is no conspiracy. Conspiracies, by their very nature, almost always FAIL. Don’t you think that if a viable replacement technology for oil appeared the oil companies would simply invest in it? They’re big enough by your reasoning, after all. And with all those -GASP!- obscene profits that “they” make, I’m sure “they” could afford it. (You know, after they actually PAY their employees!)
Go back to school and learn how the American economic model actually works, dingus. Learn about capitalization, development cost, infrastructure investment, and a whole host of other phrases that must seem like big words to you. Finding, drilling, shipping, refining, grading, insuring, and delivering OIL is a huge undertaking. You make it sound like a walk in the park. Ergo, you’re a fool.
Oh, and one last thing: Adjusted for inflation, the price of a gallon of gasoline is cheaper today than it’s ever been. I know that must blow your mind, but go look it up. And a good deal of excess can be lopped off because about 50 cents of every gallon is eaten up by state and local taxes. Of course, you sound like a Lib so because of the way you vote you’re probably indirectly responsible for a lot of that cost yourself.
Wow… I’m all for computers in the classroom, and even more so when those computers are Macs, but this is ridiculous.
This is a completely irresponsible waste of tax payers’ money.
Wow… I’m all for computers in the classroom, and even more so when those computers are Apple products, but this is ridiculous.
This is a completely irresponsible waste of tax payers’ money.
Should we safely assume that the editorial was prepared on a peeeceee?
@@Big Al
“Americans don’t pay taxes for medicare”
Well, first off, it is taken out of every one of my checks under the heading “Medicare”
Second-Who the hell do you think pays for our Medicare? Mexico?
Michigan is a complete mess the Governor can’t run the state. All she does is blame the past administration. She has been in office for over 4 years not and we have the worst economy in the nation. But lets buy iPods for Detroit kids because that’s how you save the state.
The house Dummycrates are completely fiscally irresponsible!
I know a few pediatricians in Detroit. I can assure you that the schools there need to spend that money on repairs, salaries, and textbooks – not iPods. I may be the biggest Mac freak out there, but I do have some common sense.
Let’s assume for the moment that there might be a good reason for this.
I just went to the ufillitup website as referenced earlier in this forum. It looked like there was lots of good information on a lot of a topics for a reasonable price. When you look at the price of a good textbook today (oftentime $50+), the “hassle” of carrying all of these textbooks everyday to and from school, and the cataloging and storage of the textbooks, perhaps the nominal cost of an iPod plus some good software makes sense. Further, individualized instruction can take place with students listening/watching content that is appropriate for the student learning.
It is a lot cheaper & more durable than a computer.
My biggest concern is the tech support and time needed to maintain all of these iPods.
<rant>
I’ve read the ill-informed diatribes from WiseGuy, BustingtheSkulls, Jason, etc., and it sickens me to see the right-wingnut talking points mindlessly vomited back using “liberal” as an epithet instead of actually thinking or engaging in thouhtful dialog.
And to those who spew about economics, capitalism, and the US “free market” system: look up the term “corporate welfare.” Then look up the Gini index (you can find data in the CIA’s World Factbook website) where you’ll find that the distribution of wealth in the US since ‘Conservative revolution’ now ranks on par with African dictatorships. Look at the figures from your own Dept of Labor on what kind of jobs are growing and what income they provide. Look at the Census Bureau website to see that nearly a 1/4 of the population is without health insurance and the number of children living in poverty is steadily climbing.
Then you can talk to me about ‘hair-brained liberal policies.’ Until you think critically — not just splatter knee jerk mouthings — about this, just shut up.
</rant>
Please take your politcally biased commentary elsewhere. Preferably to Rush and Fox “News” where this pontificating and posturing belongs. Leave us to thoughts of Apple here.
Wiseguy – now there’s an ironic name.
New Zealand has never been a ‘socialist’ state.
The NZ Labour Government of David Lange denied entry to US warships because they refused to state whether they were nuclear powered or carried nuclear weapons, and NZ had a nuclear free policy which continues to this day. As such, the Government was forced to ban all US warships.
In vindictive retaliation, the Republican President of the US, you know that complete fruit loop Ronald Reagan, and his conservative bum-chums in the houses of Government, imposed the harshest economic sanctions ever placed on a western democracy, crippling the New Zealand economy. This came at a time that the country could ill-afford due to inheriting an economy in need of serious structural reform due to failed economic policies and neglect of the previously ruling conservative National Party.
The New Zealand government was greatly admired here in Australia for its courage in standing up to the most powerful and vengeful and paranoid nation on Earth.
Now to get back on topic, iPods for every school kid?
Perhaps they should make sure the schools are properly resourced and the teachers receive the ongoing professional development they need first.
There are those who benefit from the idea
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
TWO POLITICIANS instrumental in a controversial plan to buy iPods for every school child in Michigan were given a junket at the expense of Apple.
According to the Detroit Free Press, Matt Gillard and house Speaker Andy Dillon were paid by Apple to visit California to have the merits of the iPod explained to them.
Apparently the two democrats were so impressed with the presentation that they came back and recommended that $36 million of state money be shelled out give school kids an iPod.
It is worthwhile pointing out that the State is facing a budget crisis at the moment and needs to find $600 million.
Dillon has defended the trip saying he was “one of several lawmakers” to take up Apple’s invite although he didn’t name names.
Gillard said that the lawmakers spent more time on non-Apple business during the trip. Apparently they were discussing wine distribution and Michigan business taxes, which you need to go to California to do.
They claim such junkets were considered fair when the Republicans did them and now that the Democrats were in power they should be allowed too.
A spokesRepublican pointed out that while it was true they did such junkets, they didn’t come back and immediately decide to buy $36 million worth of Apple products. They probably waited awhile before suggesting it, or bought non-Apple products instead.
When I heard that Michigan wanted to buy iPods for their students, I was impressed. Wow, they got it. The simple world of paper and pencil doesn’t exist anymore and they were willing to bite the financial bullet to level the financial divide between the haves and the have nots to prepare their children for the technological world of today and tomorrow.
Every certified teacher must take a course in using technology in the classroom. An iPod is less expensive than a computer and more portable. Personally, I take mine with me just about everywhere I go. It is very simple for the data to be transferred from the individual computer terminals in the classrooms to the iPod. In my opinion, a Zune is not as well built or durable as an iPod since it is plastic and the iPod is metal.
In any case, an MP3 device, as they are often called, allows portability of information so that the information can be listened to or watched whenever or wherever the user desires. In my case, I live in an area of the world where it is rare to hear spoken French. My iPod allows me to download French television and radio newscasts so that I can listen to them at my time and convenience and thereby maintain my language skills. There are quite a few language learning podcasts that are available free on the Internet that would be excellent supplements for any language learning program. Could I listen to them on my computer? Sure. But the iPod lets me listen to them when I take a walk, clean the house, work in the yard, or take a drive in the car, and not every student has a computer of his or her own.
Will there be some problems with the program? Probably. But my bet is that their kids will score higher on tests and perform better in the real world, and that is what counts in the end.