--- Forwarded Message from Jeff Magoto <[log in to unmask]> ---

>Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2004 10:54:01 -0700 (PDT)
>From: Jeff Magoto <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: iPods instead of audio consoles
>In-reply-to: <[log in to unmask]>
>To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum
<[log in to unmask]>

An online posting today says that Duke is giving all 1800 of its incoming
freshmen iPods for a variety of purposes.
http://www.marketwatch.com/news

Language learning wasn't mentioned as one of them, but just out of
curiosity, has anyone else who's faced with replacing their aging Sony or
Tandberg labs (esp. in self-access centers) entertained the idea of a
large purchase of iPods or some sort of MP3 player/recorder combo that
could: a) easily hold their entire audio collection, b) be v. mobile and
checked out, c) be easily upgraded, d) lower teacher/learner learning
curves, and e) be more useful (perhaps) to students' other academic
pursuits.

I can think of several objections (theft, no clear network model, quality
of recordings, teacher unfamiliarity), but to paraphrase a Read Gilgen
maxim, once a technology becomes a consumer item, language teachers get
interested.--jeff magoto

 --------------------------------
Jeff Magoto
Director, Yamada Language Center
1236 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403
541-346-4319; 541-341-2703 (pager)
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