The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 96, No. 40, Ed. 1, Friday, February 29, 2008 Page: 4 of 8
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Pagc4
Friday FtbntMy2 2998
iPhone:
active-learning strategics
and a re-focusing of the
campus media they're
preparing to take maximum
advantage of the IPhone
lPod touch possibilities."
The university has spent
about fle years consider-
ing such a step with research
and discussion said Dr. Bill
Rankin associate professor
of English and director of the
IPhone educational research
team. And Roberts said all
the research has not been to
purchase a new gadget.
"This Is not about giv-
ing people lPhones" Roberts
said. "This Is not about a
piece of hardware. It's about
the learning and the appli-
cations that ne do that arc
educational. We really believe
that we arc pioneering new
learning strategics "
For now freshman stu-
dents will be given the option
of receiving an IPhone or an
lPod touch different only be-
cause an IPhone has cell phone
capabilities. Service provider
AT&T is the only provider for
lPhones and not every stu-
dent on campus uses AT&T
making it difficult to require
a switch Roberts said.
Earlier this semester the
universit) released "Con-
nected" a film that showcas
Polls: Professor says McCain certain
Republican ballot.
With McCain the certain
nominee Neal Coatcs associ-
ate professor of political sci-
ence said some voters who
may have voted in the Re-
publican primary in the past
might cross the isle to Influ-
ence the Democratic race.
"If people are going to
vote In the Republican pri
Friday March 7 2008 7pm
Moody Coliseum - ACU Campus - Abilene TX
Tickets available: Moody Box Office KGNZ Radio
UfeUUoy Christian in Abilene Family Christiana in San
flngelo SunTrax (Highland Shopping Center) in Snyder
For group rates or more concert info call:
325 -
University aims to
es the university's vision for
mobile learning.
Applications including
homework alerts In-class quiz-
zes GPS like directions account
balances and email access
among others will transform
the traditional classroom to the
21st century classroom Rob-
erts and Rankin said.
The move also will change
the campus culture because
classroom activities and in-
teractions will change with
the devices Rankin said. And
while some professors at
other universities seek wavs
to eliminate cell phones from
the classroom to prevent text
messaging and internet use
Rankin said ACU professors
will Incorporate such activi-
ties Into the curriculum.
Rankin cited a biology lab
where students now must gath-
er samples and rehim to a lab
to use the Internet for research
With an iPhone or lPod touch
Rankin said students sinipiv
hav e to reach into their pockets
"Now the class can happen in a
completely new wav" Rankin
said "The classroom loses Its
walls; 1 can go anyw here."
Proponents also tout the
ability to take quizzes in class
and receive results immedi-
ately find on campus direc-
tions and receive emergency
alerts on the devices
Rankin uses the attendance
mary the) 're going to be vot
tag for the Sheriffs race and
the County Commissioners'
race" Coates said "They are
not that Interested In the na-
tional race."
Texas voters can decide
at their polling places which
primary to vote In.
Polls close at 7 pm or when
the last vote is cast and there
will be a precinct convention
at 7.15 pm. At those conven
673 - 8801 or 210 - 858
application in his classroom
already It sends him an e-
mall after he finishes taking
roll. He also uses his iPhone
to look for facts on Google or
Vtiklpcdia and if every student
has an IPhone they can partici-
pate as well Rankin said.
"This Is about active
learning" he said.
Not cv cr one has expressed
such excitement. Students
created a Facebook group
called "Official ACU Freshman
IPhone Policy Protest Group"
and as of Thursday 188 stu-
dents staff or faculty had
Joined the group.
On the public wall stu-
dents voiced concerns mainly
about tuition raises and gen-
eral costs
Some w ondered If the inv est-
rnent is wise in light of lower
admissions rates professors'
contracts that weren't renewed
and recent constructioa
Despite murmurs that the
recently approved tuition
raise could be footing the bill
for the new equipment Rob-
erts said there is no correla-
tion between the lPhones and
the Increase.
"The 7-percent tuition In-
crease isn't paving for our
IPhone" Roberts said. "Right
now w e arc committed to find-
ing the funding for these; we
arc right now in the process of
trying to identify wav s to fund
tions voters can elect a pre
cinct captain who will repre-
sent their respective precincts
at the county conventloa
Voters can find their poll-
ing places through the Tay-
lor Count)' Elections Office at
www.taylorcounty tcxas org
ekctionl html
HNlMMMIttMrtKU
- 5904
i
KSf lrfJ-'Wfl-
expand
each of these devices.'
The university continues
to discuss logistics with
AT&T and Apple Roberts
said but would not comment
on the negotiations.
Some opponents also have
criticized the plan for focus-
ing only on next year's incom-
ing freshmen. But Roberts
said upperclassmen haven't
been ruled out.
"It's not a dodge" Roberts
said. "We are still working
with Apple and AT&T ... We
haven't forgotten the upper-
classmen. We Just had to pick
a spot and say This Is how
we're going to do this.' It only
makes sense to do that in a pi-
lot controlled environment."
The decision to provide the
freshman class with lPhones
or lPod touches accelerated
already-planned WiFl changes
across campus and this sum-
mer the university's infra-
structure and programming
will need to be revamped to
support a curriculum de-
signed to incorporate 'such
widespread use of IPhone ap-
plications Rankin said.
In the original plans the
university aimed to distribute
the devices only to freshman
honors students a group of
about 120 Rankin said.
A chance to provide the
devices for all freshmen came
up Rankin said and the uni
Change: SA fuads society trip
group because of network-
ing portfolio and award
opportunities.
"We are setting a great
example for ACU when we
meet these professionals"
Schmidt said.
She also told Congress the
group lost its sponsor last year
and displacement from last
semester's Don Morris Center
renovations prevented access-
ing the TV studio to participate
Survey: SA
MM ftN ppl
sophomores 166 Juniors
133 seniors and 72 fifth
year students or beyond.
Fifty-nine percent of the to-
tal was female while 41 per-
cent Is male.
Caitlln Craig sophomore
family studies major from
Charlotte N. C and survey
participant said "I went
ahead and filled out the sur-
vey even though I was neu
Mirror: Play
Imptpl
brought to us" Woodard said.
The goal of the play is
to offer solutions and to
teach those who are strug-
gllng with common college
Your news on
Visit licoopu'mistcwn to ign up
mobile classroom
versity chpse to expand Its pi-
lot program.
"That's a huge number of
people that's about 1000
people" Rankin said. "That's
going to stretch us dramati-
cally In all kinds of ways ...
We think we could do that for
1000. We wish we could do
that for more."
And he added change has
to start somewhere.
"Last year we renovated
the food court" Rankin said.
"There were people who
couldn't take advantage of the
food court. But does that mean
we shouldn't have done it?"
The decision to distribute
lPhones and iPod touches to
freshmen continues a mobile
learning program already In
place at the university which
has used video lPods in the
distance education program
at ACU Online. Professors
also use podcasts to augment
their lectures Roberts said
adding that he expects to see
technology use increase at
the university as it follows
the 21st Century Vision and
updates the classroom.
"The 21st-century class-
room is going to look really
different" Roberts said. "I am
convinced that we are setting
up our graduates to be better
prepared to deal with the world
they're going to step into This
is how we're going to do busi
In Freshman Follies arijeatag
Song like it usually doespfc-
raise money. Last year 25 stiF.
dents attended the convention
Schmidt said.
"Giving them this money
could help revive their num-
bers" sophomore senator Da-
vid Vanderpool said calling
the organization an "influen-
tial group on campus" for its
studio access.
Worthington charged Con-
gress members to bring five
people to next Wednesday's
shows student responses
tral about most of the sub-
jects . . I think it's a good
way for ACU to get students'
feedback and see where a lot
of students stand on some of
its policies."
SA has already calculated
the results of the survey and
has put them in the hands
of the administration to
be reviewed. "
Although the end of" the
year is approaching- SA still
plans to send another survey
inspires self -
experiences; appearance
self worth or identity to not
look at others for a solution
but to look at oneself.
"Everyone can find some-
thing to relate to in this play
and I am excited because
campus is also your news online.
B - ion-- . . m 'J
w g mm t ipjpjpjpji
IbH sir mf I
www.acuoptimist. com
for Iwire-Mrcldy c-nuih and to receive
nesses ... This Is Just how it's
going to be."
As the university prepares
to launch its pilot program a
team will evaluate and alter
the freshman curriculum to in-
corporate the technology and
teams will prep faculty to Incor-
porate the changes continuing
a process begun at the Adams
Center Rankin said. Roberts
said the university continues
to explore options for students
who aren't freshmen some
who could be enrolled In fresh-
man level courses.
"We're going to be very
careful not to disenfranchise
anyone that doesn't have an
iPhone" he said.
In the meantime the uni-
versity must also develop
a plan for distributing the
lPhones make a final deci-
sion on funding the technol-
ogy and prepare the campus
to support the change.
"My hope is that our vision
for how these devices can in-
tegrated is correct" Roberts
said. "If it is I think well have
a group of students that will be
more technology-aware they'll
be more information-savvy and
I think they'll be better-connected.
And if we can have those
three things than we've hit it
out of the park."
lHHlhMlMau
meeting where administrators
. will field questions about recent
developments at the university.
StudentslAssodatlon meetings
are TSjAaaUall students and
begin afSjtjTikUart Audito-
rium in the oHMJKjr Bib-
lical Studies BulloVM'
Congress also luuHLously
appointed Grace Lozano fresh-
man psychology major from
San Antonio to the Chambers
representative position.
MtPNNfttaplMMM
this one directed at bettering
the campus.
"I'm not somebody who
thinks the Students' Asso-
ciation is Just aboiB the year
that I'm president. I'm think-
ing about the next guy and I
want to give them things when
I leave" Worthington said.
worth value
this year we have a chance to
make history because noth-
ing like this has ever been
done before" Jones said.
breaking ncui update ai (hey ixmi
Y 1
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The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 96, No. 40, Ed. 1, Friday, February 29, 2008, newspaper, February 29, 2008; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101984/m1/4/: accessed May 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.