Portable Media Players : Case Studies
Part One: Role in Education
Case #1: Schools ban media players to prevent cheating
Several schools have banned media players as they have been found to contain history notes, mathematical and scientific formulas, etc. Ingenious students would conceal the earpiece and wire in their sleeves and then bring themselves into a resting position with their heads on their hand when they would play and listen to the answers.
Case #2: School bans media players for breeding "social isolation"
Students of Sydndney, a private international Grammer School in Australia, are given one of two options. They can either keep their players at home or in their lockers at school. The rationale behind such a ban is that media players lead to anti-social behaviors - avoidance of communication and a means to escape from community.
Case #3: Schools recognise the potentials of media players in education
In recent years, portable media devices have been used for various reasons, most of which in language and humanities. Professors make use of media players to deliver course-relate materials which include videos, audiotapes and even lecture notes. Even in physical education, media players can be employed by teachers to allow them to do performance analysis with students. For competitive sports, in particular, they allow for real-time viewing on the field. In some cases, schools even encourage students to join iPod training seminars. Several companies have taken advantage of this trend to release audiobooks (textbooks in audio form) and practically any content specific information.
Our Analysis:
While I concede with the possibility of cases #1 and #2, I should think that they apply only in a minority of cases. In most of these minority cases, however, they are mainly caused by personality and individual behavioral issues which should not be conveniently lumped together in the argument against media devices. For starters, cheating has always been a pervasive issue in schools. In the past, baseball caps were banned in examination halls as the answers could be written on the edge of their caps. Later, mobile phones were forbidden because students were found text messaging one another. Now, it is media players. The crux of the problem here seems to be completely overlooked - that the student has inherent behavioral issues, and this is the problem which should be tackled. Posing one ban after another is only a convenient way of tackling the ends, but not the means. Similarly, this concept can be applied to anti-social behaviors. True, media players may be making it easier for some to practice anti-socialism. However, as mentioned, this is negligible and should not be compromised by the masses who stand to gain if they employed media players. Typically, the teacher should play the role of a counselor for the student.
Now how exactly do media players benefit us? Generally, with the diverse uses of its features as mentioned in case #3, they facilitate teaching and promote teacher-student interactivity, often crucial in a student's overall development. Moreover, certain students learn better in audio/visual environments, hence the distribution of such electronic materials will definitely aid them for revision at a later pont of time, in comparison, to unappealing lengthy handouts. Interesting innovative formats often serve the function of keeping students interested and motivated for further exploration and in-depth pursuit in the subject matter. Personally, I am one such person. There was one instance whereby my friends and I had our notes read out and recorded. After playing them on my player for several days - when commuting or before sleeping, I managed to memorise accurately their contents. The three of us then proceeded to scoring our As for that particular subject. Of course, nowadays, with audiobooks readily available for downloads, you no longer need to do the recording yourself.
Nevertheless, employing such methods is not simple. To effectively incorporate media player technologies in our education, there must exist a comprehensive plan of execution to ensure a consistent standard of quality. In addition, teachers would have to well equipped with the skills of new media and constantly emerging tools.
Part Two: Dangers of Portable Media Players
Case #4: iPod sets a boy's pants on fire
On the 12th March 2009 in Cincinnati, a kid's iPod Touch suddenly caught fire which left him with second degree burns on his leg and melted underwear. Similar cases have been reported in the past, but not of such severity. According to him, the iPod was off when it suddenly released burning sensations. Shocked, he stood up and realised that his pants were on fire. The device had burnt through his nylon underwear and spread onto his leg.
In general, nylon only burns at 374 degrees Fahrenheit - higher than what it takes for an egg to fry. Hence, it remains a mystery how he never noticed it before hand. It was possibly a sudden internal explosion which caused the iPod to catch fire.
Case #5: Portable Media Players and Lightning are a deadly combination
A 37-year-old man jogging in a thunderstorm whilst listening to his iPod was struck by lightning. He suffered from second-degree burns on his cheek and left leg amongst other areas. Other cases reported in China, Korea and Malaysia also reflect that usage of mobile devices during storm cause them to be struck by lightning.
The truth is, portable media players do not attract lightning shocks specifically. However, with a combination of its metal casing, earphones and (for this case) sweat, they act as conductors of electricity. Many people employ such devices to keep them company when jogging, hence an important point to take note of.
Some Advice:
- Always be cautious and in alert of your mobile devices.
- Stop usage when sensing extraordinary heat.
- Wear thicker pants and underwear. (kidding! but you may want to avoid putting your player in your pockets.)
- Do not bring portable media players out in raining/wet conditions.
- Use a rubber casing to protect and insulate your portable media player.
Acknowledgements:
1. Barb Dybwad's article on iPods becoming banned in Sydney school for breeding "social isolation". (1st April 2009)
2. Jacqui Cheng on the kid whose pants were set on fire. (1st April 2009)
3. James Lewin on Thunderstorms & iPods. (1st April 2009)
4. James Lewin on Thunderstorms & iPods:Part 2. (1st April 2009)
5. Stiler, Gary M.'s report on the applications and implications for the use of popular technology in Secondary schools. (1st April 2009)
6. Andy Carvin's take on whether MP3 players enhance learning. (1st April 2009)
7. James "Dela" Delahunty on school banning MP3 players to combat cheating. (1st April 2009)