Some Universities have plans to implement the use of iPhone and iPod touch for educational purposes. Recently, a Chappel Hill Middle School has also come up with a proposal to equip teachers and students with iPod touch to use it as a learning tool.

The proposal has received mixed reaction from school authorities, with some of them thinking that the hand-held device could be misused. However, some of the authorities are pro technology. Susan Wells, Principal at Culberth Middle School observed:

It’s a world we better figure out, because we can’t ask our students to come into a classroom, put those things aside and sit in a row and think we’re interesting.

The debate for the implementation of this project is still going on. If at all the plan gets approval, this would be funded privately. The tendency of using technology as a substitute for curriculum is not a new concept. In some cases the moves were successful and for some a bad experience. For instance, Mountain View High School in Meridian, Idaho has banned the use of iPod touch after a bitter observation that students tend to use the device more for cheating.

On the success side, South Iredell High School in Statesville has used iPod touch for classroom purposes for two years and has further plans to expands it’s iPod pilot plan. Tim Ivey, learning community director of the school shares this view:

It gives kids a chance to use things they already use in real life and make that connection in school.

Whatever is the outcome, it is interesting to observe that the iPod touch and the iPhone as revolutionary devices have done wonders for enterprise users, business community and now students. With all these happening we are heading for out of stock situation for iPod touches and iPhones very soon.