The Florida Times-Union recently reported on the technological integration in post-secondary education in Jacksonville.
The article foresees a future where iPod lectures, downloadable texts, and other resources will make textbooks obsolete. This would be positive for students who deal with textbook cost issues. The Campus Voice and Fox News both reported on FCCJ signing a deal with Amazon to start putting books on the Kindle, an electronic book reader that saves money on textbook costs.
The Times-Union also reported on FCCJ's expansion with iTunes U. iTunes U is a program on iTunes that allows iTunes users to download free class lectures from a number of colleges. FCCJ was one of the first colleges to sign up for iTunes U, which now houses lectures from MIT, Stanford, and a number of other colleges, and FCCJ is still the only college in Northeast Florida to use iTunes U.
Through iTunes U and other programs that put lectures onto podcasts, the article talks about the "portability" of academic programs like FCCJ's dental hygiene program, which is featured on iTunes U.
"Why shouldn't a student be able to learn about the anatomy of a central incisor by listening to a lesson while waiting in line for their espresso at Starbucks?" said Jeffrey Smith, instructional program manager of dental programs at Florida Community College at Jacksonville. "Isn't it better to utilize the long hours spent in a car commuting to and from school to listen to a lecture on the nervous system of the head rather than a popular music station?"
Currently, anyone can also download free FCCJ course videos about dental hygiene, culinary arts, math and English at iTunesU, a service for colleges.
In the future, FCCJ is also hoping to use Virtual Learning Environments, such as SecondLife for a safe, economical, and creative way to explore the world.
Jeff Kissinger, Director of Distance Learning and Emergent Technologies at FCCJ, posted a blog about using SecondLife for museum tours. Amongst other possibilities, students can examine the Sistine Chapel by Leonardo Da Vinci or even go inside of the painting "Starry Night" by Vincent Van Gogh. These offer possibilities that would either be impossible because of economical reasons or physical limitations.
Although I think this is a really modern and innovative idea, I'm still slightly ambivalent about where I would stand if this all really came into play. I am very technologically depend. I love my ipod, laptop and blackberry unconditionally. But school is about especially college, is about effort and time comsumption. It always has been and should remain that way. It wouldnt be worth the money to be or taken as seriously by myself if I was listening to my lecture in the line at starbucks instead of my desk at school. I believe education and technology should intrigrate but not to that extent.
ReplyDeleteI think this would be a good idea, because it would definitely save me money on text books. Especially when I try to return my books(nearly new)and only get a small fraction back. I think it may help people focus more if they can learn at the pace they want. Some have trouble learning in the classroom, and need the extra time, and with a playback feature, they could refresh what they learned.
ReplyDeleteThere are negatives, such as forgetting to study, but that is strictly the students responsibility.
Although this might be a useful idea for some, I must say that I don't agree with it.
ReplyDeleteI feel that if you're standing in a line watching/listening to a lecture, driving in a car listening to a lecture, or at home listening to a lecture, there are too many things around you that can cause distraction.
There is something about sitting in a room full of people and being able to focus and really listen that defeats the idea of being educated through iPods.
I don't like that idea at all.
I feel like kinesthetic learners especially learn hands on, that's something that listening to a lecture will never provide.
Additionally, I don't know too many students my age that are will to drop cash for kindle or an iPod.
ReplyDelete