If I were a journalism student, I would be pushing back against the trend towards iPod Touch devices. While instant communication is key and it makes sense to have an iPhone, Blackberry, Google Android (listed in reverse order of preference for me!), I can’t imagine cranking out a story on anything as small as one of these handheld devices.
Instead of buying a $300 device that you can’t type on, I’d invest in a netbook of some sort with a wireless card/USB device that ensure connectivity. For about the same price ($300+$60 monthly), a journalism student would be able to write and upload stories as well as capture images. Using the built-in image capture on 95% of phones in circulation (or about to be), it is a no-brainer to upload photos and then make them available.
Am I wrong? Am I off my rocker for journalism students? What do you think?
Books, paper and pens are considered necessary school supplies. Now, so is an iPod touch or an iPhone for incoming freshmen at the MU School of Journalism.
Brian Brooks, associate dean of the Journalism School, said the idea is to turn the music player into a learning device.
“Lectures are the worst possible learning format,” Brooks said. “There’s been some research done that shows if a student can hear that lecture a second time, they retain three times as much of that lecture.”
Freshmen admitted into the School of Journalism and pre-journalism students will be sent a letter notifying them of the change. Students may buy either an iPod touch or iPhone in order to meet the new requirement. The iPod touch retails around $229 and the iPhone starts at $199, according to Apple’s Web site.
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Well, if you had a fold up keyboard, it would not be so bad. The key to me is weight, size, and battery life. It could work.
Well, if you had a fold up keyboard, it would not be so bad. The key to me is weight, size, and battery life. It could work.
If you actually read the article, the whole idea is that the students have a way of reviewing lectures. It’s not being used for typing or reporting news events. Also, the only reason it is officially required is so a student can include it in their financial aid needs. The article also says students can simply use their laptops to download and review articles as well. The article, as far as I can remember, never said anything about using it as a word processing device.
If you actually read the article, the whole idea is that the students have a way of reviewing lectures. It’s not being used for typing or reporting news events. Also, the only reason it is officially required is so a student can include it in their financial aid needs. The article also says students can simply use their laptops to download and review articles as well. The article, as far as I can remember, never said anything about using it as a word processing device.
I repeat… If you actually read the article, the whole idea is that the students have a way of reviewing lectures. It’s not being used for typing or reporting news events.
I repeat… If you actually read the article, the whole idea is that the students have a way of reviewing lectures. It’s not being used for typing or reporting news events.
What’s that? You wanted a response? Ok…why spend precious dollars on devices that have limited uses (e.g. iPod Touch) when you can get a full-blown laptop/netbook at the same cost that is more aligned to the job of a journalist? And, just because the article didn’t say it, that’s not the question. Why didn’t it explore BETTER, more strategic applications of technology…oh that’s right, it’s an article reporting what happened. This is a blog reflecting on what was said.SO, yes, the university should have taken the time to think it through some more rather than just jump on the iPod Touch bandwagon.Thanks for the feedback,Miguel
What’s that? You wanted a response? Ok…why spend precious dollars on devices that have limited uses (e.g. iPod Touch) when you can get a full-blown laptop/netbook at the same cost that is more aligned to the job of a journalist? And, just because the article didn’t say it, that’s not the question. Why didn’t it explore BETTER, more strategic applications of technology…oh that’s right, it’s an article reporting what happened. This is a blog reflecting on what was said.SO, yes, the university should have taken the time to think it through some more rather than just jump on the iPod Touch bandwagon.Thanks for the feedback,Miguel