Another sign of the times, from Michigan

[DaleT]

Re: Another sign of the times, from Michigan

This is nothing more than a bargaining chip idea. The MI legislature is currently battling over the next budget, as stated in the article amid huge deficits. The Republicans are taking a hard line stance that there will be no tax increases or new taxes while maintaining that more services need to be cut. The Democrats are countering that services have been cut to the bare minimum as it is, and with the expiration of certain taxes new revenue streams are needed(ie tax hikes or new taxes). By throwing this proposal out there they have something they can concede that they never really planned to pursue anyways and when it is sruck down point fingers at the other side of the isle. By the way this isn't the first time this type of plan has been used here, a few years back there was an initiative to give every grade school student a lap top. Oddly enough that was also struck down due to budget issues. Anyway you look at it, it's politics as usual. Liberal/Conservative, Democrat/Republican it doesn't really matter, they are all career politicians.

 

[i386]

Re: Another sign of the times, from Michigan

^^^ Probably right on the $$.

 

[mrbscott19]

Re: Another sign of the times, from Michigan

duh... we've all heard of a podcast.

I take it you've never heard of music? Which do you think the kids will listen to, music or a podcast of "Bueller, Bueller, Bueller...."

Liberals may live in some fantasy utopia... but kids don't. They'll be listening to music.

You missed my point by about a mile, but that doesn't surprise me. Podcasts are downloadable. They can be stored just like music. In order to pass the test at the end of the week, they must listen to the lecture and know the material. With an Ipod they can listen to the podcast whenever they want, not just in class the one time the teacher gives the lecture. Maybe they don't have a good memory, maybe the student is going through a touch time and can't concentrate at the moment. It's the same concept as using a tape recorder. But I wouldn't expect you to understand that sort of logic. I suppose next they shouldn't be allowed to use computers at school because they can listen to music and even watch video on those too, right?

But I do agree that this would be better served for High schoolers and not kindergarteners.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Another sign of the times, from Michigan

Pod casting 4th grade math? I used to just attend class. What was I thinking?

So lets just add this to the list of entitlements.

I-pods, cuz students can't attend class. Downloading intellectual property illegally won't ever occur..........

 

[mrbscott19]

Re: Another sign of the times, from Michigan

If you knew anything about Ipods at all you'd know that you can't download music from the internet with them......but I guess ignorance is bliss, right? Then you can say whatever you want and it makes sense.

Also, the Ipods are not an entitlement, they are a perk, just like computers in the classroom. Getting an education is an entitlement....see the difference? Bliss I tell ya!

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Another sign of the times, from Michigan

Mrscott. How's the koolaid?

Any other government subsidized toys children need? How about government subsidized MIDI systems for music class. One for everyone. Oh, I'm sorry, Perk. A perk is when the government supplies a segment it's citizens with i-pods, while others have to pay. Let me get this straight, when someone recieves something for free as part of a government program, paid for by tax dollars, for a specific sector of society, this is not a entitlement. Back to civics class for you. Sure we can yell and scream about how the books are not current or in adequate supply, buildings are falling down, the absolute need for a sports complex to seat 10,000 with a high diving well, no better yet - a cliff diving well, but we need to spend money from a bankrupt government for i-pods for 3rd graders. Please post more. You help the cause.

Are you living under a rock? Michigan is broke. There is a good chance they will go bankrupt. I guess making their bills would be a perk. They are considering taxing INTRA state commerce. 2% on all goods not mfg'd in Michigan. That could raise the cost of goods up to 10% to the consumer. And since unemployment is high, and thousands have already left the state, homes are being repo'd at a rate of 1 in 80, combined with the historical track record of taxing ones self into prosperity, I think some really fresh ideas are in order. They have a socialist in the governors mansion, Yep, that will help. Did you miss the part of the story where this was nothing but payback for a junket?

Thank god you are here to tell us all how ignorant we are. Hey I have a question, would any child that downloads a Rush Limbaugh broadcast get his i-pod taken away? And how exactly does one download a podcast, from say, maybe, perhaps, possibly, THE INTERNET? OOps I is too stupiid 2 udderstand da concepted uh downlodeing.

I have another idea, how about reading a book as a gateway to learning. It serves double duty, reading and the learning of whatever topic being studied? Have you seen literacy rates? How long do you think an i-pod would last in the hands of a 3rd grader. Do they get free replacements? What do you call a perk replacing a mandated perk. Do you have any idea how many kids don't have pencils, erasers, notebooks? We have children who lose snowpants at school. SNOWPANTS. How long for an i-pod? Do we have a free replacement for up to say 75 lost units?

I suggest we just encourage our children to attend class. It's a good thing.


Quote Mrscott

If you knew anything about Ipods at all you'd know that you can't download music from the internet with them......but I guess ignorance is bliss, right? Then you can say whatever you want and it makes sense.

Please enlighten us idiots that have been downloading music off the internet for years where the music for ipods is loaded from. Format shifting????

 

[Pony]

Re: Another sign of the times, from Michigan

Pointer not everyone downloads illegal mp3 files and simply uploads them into itunes to then put into an ipod <<<< insert sarcasm here

I agree with Pointer 100%, in fact I wish I had said some of it first.

Why would you need to have podcasts of lectures if you show up to class. This is really just enticing kids to not show up to class. That is how college works.............the teachers who post powerpoints of their lectures on the web and don't take attendance usually have half the seats full on non exams days.

A book, like a podcast can be listened too, can be read at the students leisure, and will still help them if they aren't a good listener etc etc etc..........

 

[Launch25]

Re: Another sign of the times, from Michigan

That last guy gives a whole new meaning to Chief Petty Officer.

 

[rolmops]

Re: Another sign of the times, from Michigan

I do think that some people are very busy trying to misinform the honoured iboat public.
The only thing discussed was increased use of technology to help in education.There was never the intention or the plan to give every school going child in Michigan an ipod.
This was only a deliberate misrepresentation of things discussed in a meeting.
It is really pityful that you people grab on to these things in a desperate effort to condemn others.
A little bit of scepticism about these "news" blurbs would become you people well.
I could understand paranoid communist hunters go for this dung, but I would like to think that most of you are too well educated to waste time on dumb propaganda of this sort.
But if it is true,and I hope fervently that it is not,then I am left with comparing it to a 315 million dollar bridge that was almost built in Alaska in order to serve about fifty people.This idea was promoted in the senate by republican senator Ted Stevens
It must be that there are idiots on both sides of the isle

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Another sign of the times, from Michigan

You may be right Rolmops. But here is another perspective.

http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2007/04/13/michigan-kids-wont-get-ipods-after-all

 

[rolmops]

Re: Another sign of the times, from Michigan

As always,the truth is probably somewhere in the middle.
Now for your link.It is obvious that the Iboats censurer does not understand arabic or latin.
Arstechnika translates in both languages as pimp technology

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Another sign of the times, from Michigan

Years ago when our company put filters on internet usage, some found relief using babble fish. Is this the same thing? Seems the teachers were even duped on this one as they opposed it as well.

http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/04/06/ipods.for.michigan.kids/

 

[mrbscott19]

Re: Another sign of the times, from Michigan

Pointer not everyone downloads illegal mp3 files and simply uploads them into itunes to then put into an ipod <<<< insert sarcasm here



Why would you need to have podcasts of lectures if you show up to class. This is really just enticing kids to not show up to class. That is how college works.............the teachers who post powerpoints of their lectures on the web and don't take attendance usually have half the seats full on non exams days.

A book, like a podcast can be listened too, can be read at the students leisure, and will still help them if they aren't a good listener etc etc etc..........

So how exactly do you listen to a book? You can buy the book on tape, but then you might as well download it for free and listen to it on your Ipod.

Whens the last time you went to the library to look something up when you had the internet right in front of you? You ever try to read a book while jogging or doing any number of other activities?? A new technology is being used to help kids learn in AND OUT of the classroom and most people are complaining. You would think people would see that as a good thing. Oh wait, better education usually equals a "liberal" way of thinking.......I understand the opposition now. Silly me.

 

[Pony]

Re: Another sign of the times, from Michigan

So how exactly do you listen to a book? You can buy the book on tape, but then you might as well download it for free and listen to it on your Ipod.

Whens the last time you went to the library to look something up when you had the internet right in front of you? You ever try to read a book while jogging or doing any number of other activities?? A new technology is being used to help kids learn in AND OUT of the classroom and most people are complaining. You would think people would see that as a good thing. Oh wait, better education usually equals a "liberal" way of thinking.......I understand the opposition now. Silly me.

mrbscott, just how far removed from the educational process are you? Being a 5th year Senior in college, I am still in the thick of it.

In a perfect world the ipod thing is GREAT. Helping kids learn is a wonderful thing, and is not something that is limited to Liberal thought. The problem is this isnt a perfect world. If you want to make podcast lectures available for kids who already have ipods that is fine, but you simply can't make having an ipod mandatory nor can you give every kid one. It just isnt practical. What happens when one breaks? Gets lost? or better yet, when the kid in the locker next to you steals it and sells it on ebay? Who becomes responsible for replacement?....the kid? the parents? the school?, the state? The cost of starting a program like this is large enough, but the upkeep would absolutely strangle an already tight budget. Schools are already cutting music and art classes.......what else will they have to cut so that little johnny can replace the ipod he broke.

You seem to be misunderstanding me completely....I am 100% for new technology being used to help kids learn in AND OUT of the classroom. This way is just not practical. Its great when they do things like put lectures online for students, but in my expirence you didnt need to have a computer of your own. The school doesnt give you one either. IF you have one of your own, thats great...........IF you dont you have access to computers all over campus in numerous labs and libraries.

 

[treedancer]

Re: Another sign of the times, from Michigan

Not trying too argue with anybody, but I found this generic ipod for $53 bucks, not much higher than some of the text books I was paying for when I took Computer Concepts at the local Community college. When I had the misfortune of loosing one, I had too replace it at my expense, no argument there, went out and bought me a new one.. I would think the Generic version would be a rather handy tool to have, providing the school that you are attending has the ability too record the pod cast, or what ever they do too make it available. Isn?t that what makes these online education colleges so popular?


http://www.pricegrabber.com/user_sales_getprod.php?masterid=9906752&lot_id=6059693

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Another sign of the times, from Michigan

I just have to laugh. First off, selling textbooks is big business. Most text books are written by someone who expects to be PAID for his efforts. You won't just be able to download it for free. Unless you somehow feel that too should be free. That is the entitlement mentality of some. Stealing music off the internet, heck, who gets hurt? It should be free cuz, well, I don't want to pay for it. Back to economics class to learn how the free market works.

Next, doesn't anyone think that there is an inherent benefit from reading. You know, taking time, and exercising the old bean, (or one good brain cell). Helps learn spelling, syntax, punctuation. It might just allow for independent interpretation. Heaven forbid the text book has drawings or pictures. Sorry but we are going to have to bump up to the $300 model. But if it infringes on skateboard time, was it really worth reading? Is there really something wrong with making someone actually take time to dedicate themselves to providing full concentration to learning for as much as, what, 30 minutes? Is there no lesson in managing time and completing something without the aid of a gamebox? Heck, why read a book, I'll just wait for the movie.

Not only can a computer do what an ipod does, it can do it better. The lessons not learned by using this equipment would be a loss to all students learning, how to learn.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Another sign of the times, from Michigan

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070427/ap_on_hi_te/ipod_cheating

 

[KaGee]

Re: Another sign of the times, from Michigan

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070427/ap_on_hi_te/ipod_cheating

ROFL!!!

Even still, they're still trying to give them a positive spin!

 

[DaleT]

Re: Another sign of the times, from Michigan

Hmmmm, so now these are going to be removed from classrooms. Conveniently the conservative side, of MI's congress, has just recently agreed to some sort of new business tax to replace the outgoing "single business tax." Again I say this is nothing more than politics as usual. Until you experience our current climate these things will seem to be of grandiose proportions, but in reality they are nothing more than feel good ideas to garner public support. For the record I am a left leaning individual and can still say this is/was a garbage idea. However, I would say I am much more of a pragmatical person than anything else. That meaning if it can't/won't/doesn't work then it isn't worth doing. The big picture means more to me than the immediate effect.