Duke University said today that it will continue its educational iPod program, but that not every incoming first-year student will receive one like last year. Following a preliminary review of the year-long program, Duke said the iPods will only be offered for specific courses upon the request of faculty members.
“We weren’t sure what to expect when we launched this project, but we’ve been pleased by how it’s succeeded in encouraging many faculty and students to consider new ways of using the technology in fields from engineering to foreign languages,” said Peter Lange, Duke’s provost and senior academic officer. “We’ve been focusing on iPods and other mobile computing, but our wider goal is to integrate technology broadly into the teaching and learning process. The iPods have helped jump-start this process, and we plan to keep pushing ahead.”