Oh yeah? When I was a student, North Texas gave us a box with deodorant samples and a coupon to Domino's

The Dallas Morning News Techno blog, via John ...

Approximately six months after Abilene Christian University announced its intent to bring mobile learning devices into the classroom, every member of the freshman class will be presented with an Apple iPhone 3G or iPod touch this weekend. This deployment to more than 950 students marks the first time that a university has introduced these mobile devices as learning tools on such a large scale.

Several reactions here.

• First up, public colleges are now offering some pretty nifty things as well. I understand North Texas now has a workout area where all the bikes and treadmills have their personal TV monitors. I understand they have to upgrade like this to keep up with the private schools. This is all well and good, save for the fact that I'm taking two classes at UTA this fall and the costs are already above $2000. My first semester's tuition at UNT was a quarter of that.


• Second, is this making for a better education, or just making everything more MTV-ier for people who can't focus on anything for more than 20 seconds?


• Third, Abilene Christian University? Hah! I bet the iPhones come with motion sensors that'll sound klaxons anytime someone starts moving rhythmically.*

*Because they're Church of Christ, and aren't supposed to dance. ... I know, obscure.