“A Chapel Hill middle school could become the first in the country to give an iPod to every teacher and student, an experiment that would challenge teachers and administrators to ensure the hand-held devices are used as learning tools, not toys,” Matt Dees reports for The News & Observer.
“It’s still not clear how the iPod touches would be used at Culbreth Middle School. And school officials know that students may use the iPod touches more to download the new Jonas Brothers single than to tap the riches of human knowledge. But Principal Susan Wells says that to dismiss the technology as a distraction or a gimmick ignores today’s tech-driven world,” Dees reports.
“‘It’s a world we better figure out, because we can’t ask our students to come into a classroom, put those things aside and sit in a row and think we’re interesting,’ she said,” Dees reports. “‘We’re just not that interesting.'”
Dees reports, “If the project wins funding, Culbreth’s teachers, administrators and students during the next year will develop courses for which iPod touches are central to the curriculum. Other schools could follow Culbreth’s model.”
“Culbreth has bought 35 iPods: 15 for teachers and administrators and 20 for students in Advancement Via Individual Determination, a program for college-bound students who need extra help,” Dees reports. “If private funding can be obtained to foot the $230,000 bill, every student and teacher will have an iPod touch by winter break.”
Full article here.
[Attribution: MacSurfer. Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
