Local public school students get assigned Zunes
By Ryan Block 
posted Jun 29th 2008 9:16PM
posted Jun 29th 2008 9:16PM
The latest edu-gimmick to hit small-town America: Liberty, Missouri's handing out a hundred and change media players -- Zunes, to be specific -- to local high school and middle school students for listening to lesson-supporting podcasts in the hopes of saving them "lost class time." Surely this will raise test scores, right? Or at least improve the Zune's cachet? Who knows -- even the district superintendent said, "Is it the next great thing? I don't know. Maybe. But it is another tool." Maybe the Kindle might make a better tool, but either way, Microsoft apparently intends to release data on the case study later this year.
The Zune is a great gadget (Probably the best gadget Microsoft ever produced), and seeing it spread around is a thing I wished for since the first day Zune 2 was out.
Well done Zune team; this is only the beginning of many users to come.
Yes it's getting more exposure but it's not like they would willingly use them for its intended purpose.
wha?
You obviously work for Microsoft.....
wow .. you must work for (insert any company except microsoft here)
see! i can be as cool as you too!
*disclaimer: i owned a creative zen jukebox --> creative microphoto --> sandisk e280 --> zune 2 (from VERY nearly first day of online release) --> ipod classic 160gb (bought last week)
i have to say..my zune had SO many problems that i find the ipod not to have.. seriously.. it's sickening to think that NO one can come close to as good as the ipod is (and i would know)
it's strange.. the zune only lasted me about 4-5 hours on a charge..but the ipod lasts me 25?.. VERY strange.
i'm willing to accept i had a dead unit (because i had problems with it until 2.5, then they got sort of fixed, then it got stuck in device recovery mode.. don't press back, the center button, and play at the same time..it's supposed to clear the device..it does. but it won't reinstall the firmware!)
WTF!!! Somebody's been kissin' Bill Gates hindquarters. Smooch, smooch. They had to do something with all those surplus Zunes that nobody will buy. They're on their way to oblivion. Better for the environment than using them for landfill.
"Well done Zune team; this is only the beginning of many users to come."
Uh, Microsoft donated them - "Microsoft apparently intends to release data on the case study later this year."
@zach
my ipod classic 80gb is terrible. i wish i could give it back. i had to get it fixed once already.. album art doesnt work unless i buy itunes music (fuck that) and theres so many bugs that apple wont fix because they dont give a shit about anybody.
This is ridiculous! The Zune or a regular iPod is a total waste of money!
I'm sure they could have even gotten free iPod touches for the class.
Instead of just listening to Audio lectures, you can watch video lectures.
Also, think of all the amazing possibilities with the iPod Touch software platform for education and learning support. The most basic would be a 21st century flashcard program, but obviously much more complex interactive education software could be developed.
This is actually something I never really thought of before. Going to need to look into mobile OSX development!
You can watch videos just fine on the Zune, loosely_coupled. The Touch certainly has a better screen, but video lectures and presentations could be handled quite well by the Zune's top-notch podcast support.
And it's interesting that you mention educational app development -- the Zune's coming support for XNA-developed software will make it an extremely easy platform for development. The mobile OSX platform will probably be great for professional development, but XNA is easy enough that it's plausible for students themselves to develop simple apps.
Pshhh..... iPods and Zunes and Creative mp3 players.
I just strapped a terabyte external hard drive to a (tiny) motherboard and duck taped it all to a 4 inch LCD screen. Sure this baby has to be plugged in to work, but let's see your iPod/Zune hold 500 full quality movies!
*yawn*
They are taking a page out of Apple's book, Apple heavily subsidized Macs in schools so they could take advantage of a captive market. They hoped when little Suzy and Tommy grew up they would be so familiar with Macs they would buy for themselves.
It really isnt that great, gotta love its music service *cough* .... but DRM free music makes it a better product. The fact that you think its great it being spread around is odd, nobody likes the Zune man, check the sales reports. Another ploy to move units...
who cares if Saad likes his zune?
@Zed : I'm going to have to assume you don't actually have an ipod/iphone and are just talking out your ass. In cause I'm wrong:
right click (or ctrl-click if you don't have a second mouse button) on a song or selection of songs and select "Get Album Artwork." If you don't get anything back, its because you have the artist or album inputted incorrectly (or its something itunes doesn't offer). If that's the case, go to images.google.com and search for album/artist, then use that image. dope
I have thousands of albums with artwork and < 5% were purchased on itunes.
Awwwwww man why doesn't my school do something like this. All i ever got was a free t-shirt with the school logo.
"I'll share Ms. Arnolds History lecture if you share Dr. Hagenstein's 'Anatomy of a Grasshopper' lecture..."
... Welcome to the social.
Atleast you got a free t-shirt...
My high school t-shirt cost me 26 dollars... Apparently the 26.00 dollars was for school pride. My ex-girlfriend was apparently so full of it, that she stole it and never gave it back.
@MarkHawk
No offense, but I'm pretty sure she was full of something and I'm pretty sure it wasn't school pride. Well that is unless the team was involved.
I don't think schools will ever give out Kindles, kids hate to read(so do I) so if anything they'll give out audio books.
I don't get it. Why do people hate to read?
I've got every single Blizzard pocketbook ever released and I've read all of them at least three times. I don't see how reading is such a chore when you read something you enjoy.
How the fuck do you surf the internet if you hate reading?
Text-to-voice? Microsoft Sam?
I never enjoyed reading until I got my Sony eBook. I hated the clutter hardback and paperback books created and found it difficult to carry them around with me but my eBook reader is small and compact. Not only that but it can play audio too.
I read all the time now and have about 50+ novels on my eBook reader plus some useful technical books.
Even if you hate to read, if you're a technical person an eBook reader may be for you.
Schools should give out Kindles, but we should also have all our textbooks available on them. Or, there needs to be a device that's larger and supports highlighting and such so we can "mark" in our "books". Don't need to break kids' backs with 20 books they could easily carry around in one device.
@mam00th,
Reading a book and reading the truncated text on the internet are two completely different things.
i like how the lady is holding what looks more like an ipod not a zune?
Looks like a Zune to me.
how so?
Are you an idiot? It's obvious that she has a black 80GB Zune in her hand, just look at the contours of the device. Darker metal, more rectangular not rounded..... uh... yeah Zune.
idk maybe im wrong but it really looks like the ipod video black to me
ok ok ok i see it now sorry didnt realize the screen went all the way down my mistake sorry
I don't know, DO you like it? What's with all these questions, we don't even know you tyler!
That is obviously too big to be an iPod :-)
i hated reading growing up. cleverly, my mother would buy me book after book on tape in order to get me to 'read' them. it worked. i read hundreds of books like that before hitting college. if they had ipods or zunes back then, i'd have been in heaven cause i could of hauled around my library in my pocket.
i think it was a smart thing for the school to do.
those poor, poor children, their education will be distracted by crappy microsoft products that will need to be reset every time they perform an illegal operation.
how the %^&@ does a computer perform an illegal operation? and why hasnt my moms computer been arrested yet?
I have yet to have any operational issues with my Zune...however the software to transfer music isn't the best.
Congrats on being the first stupid douchebag to bitch about Microsoft in a Microsoft related article.
How creative!
Jared's right -- the Zune hardware is very good .... the software on the other hand isn't the best. It's okay, and it's getting better, if they would just make it possible to utilize the space as a hard drive ...I'd really give up my iPod and get the Zune80. It's a sharp device; no EQ or not.
poor poor children they will all be distracted by playing zune games in class when they are supposed to be listening to educational info.
I haven't seen an "illegal operation" error since Windows 98. I'm gonna give your troll a D for effort, but you need research to back it up.
Also, why not give the kids a cheaper device and save some taxpayer money for things like, I dunno, updated textbooks and better cafeteria food.
me? troll? how creative of you to call someone critical of your favorite brand a troll.
If your comment actually had any relevance I would have left it alone, but as it stands that problem hasn't existed in over 7 years.
regardless, i always thought it would be funny if the police came and got our computer because it had done something illegal.
and since my mom hates computers and didnt replace her windows 98 until...a month ago, for some people out there im sure its still relevant
wow .... engadget comments hit a new low ...
illegal operation? Last time I saw that was on an Mac, iMac G3 to be exact. It was accompanied with a picture of a bomb to let me know that all hell was breaking loose.
Giving out zunes to listen to podcasts on... are there zunecasts?
you bring up a very interesting point.
Punecasts!
Pu-casts!
Puke-ass!
i dunno...
Microsoft isn't that full of itself. Podcasts are still podcasts on the Zune.
Crapple did not invent podcasts.....
Anyway, yes, the Zune marketplace has a few thousand podcasts.
I never understood the supposed leaning advantage of giving DAPs to students, especially in middle school where very little class time is spent in lectures. Also, a high-end device like the Zune is wasted on applications like this. Most of its space and sound quality won't be used. They would have been better off using flash players. They'd be smaller and more durable, too. Also, the Zune (or the iPod, for that matter) is poorly suited because it requires proprietary software to add media.
Indeed, hefty 80gig Zunes are kind of excessive if all they want students to do is listen to lectures.
They were donated, the school paid nothing for them. I'm sure they were very happy with them. :) Props to Microsoft. (Strange coming from someone with a Leopard wallpaper as his icon? You don't have to choose only one company to support).
Some people need to be creative to find a way to make things work. Podcasts are a good starting point for giving gadgets an educational side, but I also though some great ways that a Zune could be an educational and an entertainment device:
- Audiobooks : A great way to experience classic novels, summer reading lists, and other required readings from high schools. Hearing an auditory version might help students. They could also accompany the audiobooks, with a real book so they can focus on the vocab and text structure as well. Wasn't there a deal with Audible coming soon? It would also be neat if the text could scroll on the Zune screen to accompany the audio (but could take up some space), or if the audio version had a realistic cast of characters with uniquely well-done voices, and sound effects. Just a thought.
- Quizzes : An application for the Zune where a user can make his/her own quizzes from the Zune software (or a Live site) and sync them with the Zune. Maybe educators, students themselves can make their own quizzes, and then share them with other users on the Zune Marketplace. Having quizzes on the go, can be quite handy. If you're waiting for a ride, or stuck in commute, you can play with the quiz and see how many you can get right, using the dpad or your fingers. They can be timed as well.
- (educational) Games : Yeah, there can be educational games. Maybe a Hangman game, using specified vocab words. Maybe a geography game where you scroll around a map, and mark the location that a description is describing. Or maybe a similar BrainAge came for the Zune.
- Overview videos : Maybe if there's some creative talent at MS, somebody (Encarta team?) could make some educational videos that don't suck and can be entertaining, as well as educational. Putting the message clear and simple, lots of neat graphical content, and a good theme would make a great educational video.
- Catchy songs : Silly, but if somebody's really creative, they could make some jingles or a mnemonic device to help remember facts or data to keep in mind. I know there are some out there, but I can't remember any. But they can really help when you need that info. one day, and it's easier to remember a catchy song, than just a bunch of facts and figures.
This is more fit for high school students instead, and as long as all this stuff is "appealing" enough for your average teenager, then it could actually work pretty well. I'm a high school student myself, and wouldn't mind looking at one of the educational aspects on a lunch break, before school, during a commute, or whatever.
Devices can be a great studying tool, you just need to think outside the box and make it cool and workable.
I live in Liberty. It's a suburb of Kansas City with some of the better schools in the metro area. This is actually pretty cool.
They probably tried to do this with the Kansas City public schools, but were too afraid that the reprobates would try to pawn it for crack or rims.
I go to Liberty too! I read this and was like holy shit for real?!? Everyone and their dam$ dog has an ipod this is just another waste of our money and probably left over from the recent hooker scandal with our old superintendent! Yeah they probably didnt trust KC cause theyd be afraid that theyd break a world record for the most mp3 players stolen in 5 seconds! HA
Kansas city should start with a competent school board and decent teachers. giving expensive tech shouldn't ever on the drawing board until things are fixed. It's not really any wonder why west independence wanted to jump ship, the school board consists of meetings to hire the next superintendent scapegoat to blame for widespread incompetency. it's a floomin' tragedy, because the kids are getting screwed.
Please fastforward the doomsday clock one minute please.
So that school issues Zune media players to students so they can LISTEN to lectures, rather than issue Kindles so they can READ them. Apparently they no longer have literacy as part of their charter...
( Fast forward to 2012 when a "graduate" of Liberty Missouri school system is asked to fill out an employment application, a printer paper form ) "Where duz I download teh audio version of dis here ting, ya'll?"
Hey ass clown thanks for perpetuating a stereotyped view of Missouri. You fail.
Actually this is a pretty common thing with my classes (granted, my schooling is graduate level coursework in a major university); there are video recorders placed in most of the classrooms in my building which allow students to review a video or audio version of the lecture. It's really helpful for days when you can't be in a class, or when you want to review for a final exam.
I could also see tech-friendly and highly dedicated instructors using it as a supplementary option to the basic curriculum material. A recorded exam review saves paper and can be played back while the student is doing something else. Or, they could do brief discussions on related topics not able to be worked into an extremely tight lesson schedule.
@ Bradley
I don't think he means to stereotype your state as much as he means to stereotype a generation. I mean, have you read a paper written by a high school student lately? Reading improves vocabulary, sentence structure, spelling, and most importantly- reading comprehension. In the five years since I've graduated high school and completed college, it's gone downhill quickly.
Also, people perceive your intelligence through the way you speak. I live in Texas and can ditch the hick accent in a snap.
Knowing your post history, why do I get the feeling that if this were an iPod you would not be so much against it?
Kids who are driving to school can use their Zune to listen to lectures on their way. Would it be better to read the book? Yes, but you seem to think that kids who are driving should be reading at the same time. That would do wonders in jacking-up the number of accidents that kids get into.
When I was in high school (this is when CD players were introduced, and portable CD players were not even available) I ran cross-country track. I would have loved to have a portable music player to listen to while running. Imagine carrying that book while running down I-80 in Ohio, cramming for that test the next day.
And as for reading, how many high school teachers do you know that record their lessons and then transcribe them so that students can read them later? Not everything learned in the class room is directly from the book, there is a lot more that the teacher adds. If the lesson taught is available in MP3 format, should the student skip over it because it has not been printed?
But a student should not learn just a little bit more because it is not printed, and a student definately should not learn more because it is using Microsoft tech rather than Apple.
you should travel some more, because then you'd realize that most of missouri isn't like that, liberty included, and it's probably more like where you might live than you think. Just like all new yorkers aren't assholes, and that theres nothing but shopping centers and beaches in california, because im not ignorant enough to believe non-sense stereotypes like that
This idea has been tried before with other technologies. Fails every time after initial apparent success due to the increased one-on-one attention of teachers.
Microsoft study will read like this. After thorough investigation we realized that MP3 should be banned from all aspects of school and life. We support the complete eradication of any and every-kind of MP3 and music playing phone and device that starts with every letter of the alphabet. We would like the voluntary recall of every manufactured MP3 player starting with the letter A through I for fifteen years and then every year after that another MP3 or phone would be recalled until we get to the letter Z at which time we would like to run this study again.
great, now release the thing to the rest of the world PLEASE!
That's just wrong. A hundred years ago when I was in school and needed punishment we actually got paddled, or even expelled. Now they give you Zunes? What these kids do, kill someone? I would think a day or two suspension is adequate. I can't imagine what someone had done to deserve being given a Zune.
As i have always said since the 2nd generation Zune, it is now not limited to Apple Haters, this is a VERY good alternative to the iPod Classic or Nanos. I wish our school was doing this even though i already have an iPhone, it couldn't hurt right =p. And it would help Microsoft get on my good side after Vista.
Zune for listening to podcasts? Why not get something cheaper and can be used on Macs or LInux?
In any case, I can see all the kids loading them up with their favorite songs and videos and sharing them during class. Plus, since they're Zunes they'll be squirting eachother songs like crazy. Once they figure out how to do that (which will be an hour or two) it's all over for the teachers.
I love the idea, but I'm not so sure the Zune is the best product for the exact intended purpose. Those students sure are lucky though. The school will have a fun time getting them back in one piece at the end of the year.
They have a better chance of getting them intact at the end of the year compaired to iPods. ;)
I actually did something similar to this and it CAN help in the right circumstances.
For example, when prepping for the GRE, I installed a text-to-speech app on my Windows Mobile PPC phone, which in turn was used to read out to me vocabulary words on my drives to/from school/work.
In a months time, I had expanded my vocabulary immensely thanks to a simple device, which I could use during an otherwise unproductive, mandatory daily drive.
Holy CRAP!! This is 1 school district north of mine! >.< (KCMO suburb)
talk about rubbing it in!!! Grrrrrrrrr
Park Hill School Disctrick in KCMO.
How is this different then Universities and other schools that gave away iPods?
Back in 2003? It's not any different but you're not supposed to mention the "i" here.
Great lol, force under age students to use Zunes, great business model eh, Dude i'll bet anything that microsoft has giving more free zunes than what they have sold, it's like everywhere there's a Zune promotions they're giving them away, am not joking is true. I believed that they also came out a few months ago and said that they had ship 2 million units in 1 1/2 year, that # represent ship units not sold units. they're also cheap as hell at amazon.com but still not selling good though
"Great lol, force under age students to use Zunes, great business model eh, "
You do know that there are schools that REQUIRE students to buy an iPod?
I know of a few design schools that require (Force) you you to buy an MacBook.
#1 I bet you have no issue with that.
#2 You would never considered it to be "forced".
As a sudo Libertarian, I think schools that waste tax dollars on stuff like this regardless of the brand is a crime. But MS donated it, so whatever.
First Microsoft pays companies to use search engine to look that people want Microsoft instead of Google. Now Zune is in school to look like they care for students.
Next is … coming after all this products, that are release early then fix the problems and then fix it again and then release more products while they fix the problems of the rest of the products plus the new ones.
“MICROSOFT working for you” (on the problems that we could not fix first)
HAHA The students have just turned into the teachers once technology was thrown in.
But I think its going to help. It will be nice for them to actually see what available podcasts are in their subject instead of listening to their teachers every single day.
On the negative side though, with so many other podcasts out there and music and most of the students probably already owning an ipod, its gonna be hard to turn away from putting that stuff on there. Unless maybe Microsoft or the school put a lock on some of it.
Hmmm, the only reason why I would say that they should have given out iPods instead of Zunes is that the Zune software isn't compatible with Macs, and there's sure to be at least one kid with a Mac in that school.
Though, who knows if the kids are even allowed to sync content from their own computers to the devices - so it may not matter at all.
Otherwise, it's a pretty good idea. I wonder what the terms are regarding the kids keeping them. Are they owned by the school and are returned at the end of the year? Or do they keep the Zune on the condition that they use it to aid their education too?
If you dont try at all you can get vista to "perform illegal operations" its such a dirty little booooooyyyyyyyy ;))
Microsoft's Zune marketing team weekly meeting.
Team lead: "Alright guys. Inventory levels are way too high. We need to move these Zunes. Any ideas?"
Team member 1: "we could cut the price and give lifetime warranty? "
Team lead: "good"
Team member 2: "we could ask Steve if we could and make them iTunes compatible?"
Team lead: "yes, very good"
Team member 3: "we could give them away to schools and reprogram student's brains like we did for Windows?"
Team lead: "yes, that's it! Brilliant!!! Now let's find a sucker school board and make it happen."
Wow... District*...
"yes ma'am, im listening to a podcast about how great the human mind is, and the study of it, nice lecture!" and the kid puts his earphone back, which obviously blaring with a loud hip-hop/rap song...
Great choice on the Zune. For those of you who don't think that Zunes, or PMP's in general could be an educational tool, and wind up as a personal gadget, here's some ways I think the Zune could be a better educational tool, beyond podcasts:
- Audiobooks : A great way to experience classic novels, summer reading lists, and other required readings from high schools. Hearing an auditory version might help students. They could also accompany the audiobooks, with a real book so they can focus on the vocab and text structure as well. Wasn't there a deal with Audible coming soon? It would also be neat if the text could scroll on the Zune screen to accompany the audio (but could take up some space), or if the audio version had a realistic cast of characters with uniquely well-done voices, and sound effects. Just a thought.
- Quizzes : An application for the Zune where a user can make his/her own quizzes from the Zune software (or a Live site) and sync them with the Zune. Maybe educators, students themselves can make their own quizzes, and then share them with other users on the Zune Marketplace. Having quizzes on the go, can be quite handy. If you're waiting for a ride, or stuck in commute, you can play with the quiz and see how many you can get right, using the dpad or your fingers. They can be timed as well.
- (educational) Games : Yeah, there can be educational games. Maybe a Hangman game, using specified vocab words. Maybe a geography game where you scroll around a map, and mark the location that a description is describing. Or maybe a similar BrainAge came for the Zune.
- Overview videos : Maybe if there's some creative talent at MS, somebody (Encarta team?) could make some educational videos that don't suck and can be entertaining, as well as educational. Putting the message clear and simple, lots of neat graphical content, and a good theme would make a great educational video.
- Catchy songs : Silly, but if somebody's really creative, they could make some jingles or a mnemonic device to help remember facts or data to keep in mind. I know there are some out there, but I can't remember any. But they can really help when you need that info. one day, and it's easier to remember a catchy song, than just a bunch of facts and figures.
I'd love to see some of this stuff going into high schools, instead of the usual stuff. Of course, the Zunes could still be personal entertainment devices, but have some educational parts in as well. If you make it cool enough for the students, there's no reason why a student wouldn't mind exploring and viewing the educational parts.
So, let me guess the results of the 'case study':
"We find the use of the Microsoft Zune by students to be most beneficial in all aspects of learning, and we have found the Microsoft Zune to be a valuable tool. We highly reccomend the acquisition of a Microsoft Zune for every student of the School System."
A Microsoft funded study, performed by Microsoft for a Microsoft product competing for government money is hardly going to be unbiased.
This is a thinly veiled attempt to take a chunk of the iPod's market share. Only Microsoft aren't trying to do it via fancy marketing or having a better product, they're trying to force the adoption using taxpayers money.
Yeah, and which device had podcasts first??
Ok, point of clarification here. Everybody seems to be complaining about why the school didn't throw out an iPod or a Kindle for the kids. Answer? Neither Apple nor Amazon decided to donate their stuff. Microsoft did. For as much as Apple fanboys hate the Zune, the district would be stupid not to try and use them in some way. As my dad always said, the price was pretty dang good.
Apple Fanboys must be cringing hearing this news....ha!
Their being their normal hypocritical selves, thinking that if they act outraged hard enough, no one would know that similar stories of schools doing this with iPods passed without them so much as raising one finger in their trademark self-righteous disgust and outrage.
My roomie is from Liberty. He has an iPod Video (along with Powerbook G4) and so does his little brother who goes there. He called his brother but he didn't know anything about it yet, but he said he won't stop using his iPod and neither will his friends. I'm betting this will be a limited trial since there are a lot more than 100 students at that school. Its in the KC metro...about 30,000 ish people. I know this wouldn't happen at Blue Springs South (represent! also in the KC suburbs) because Mrs Evans, who got us all the funding and grants when we started Comcast Channel 15, got us all Macs to do our work on back in the day in Videomedia class. Those G5's were smokin back then. That's one of the reasons I started using Macs, because they were so much more reliable than the P4's in the programming lab I was in and a lot more fun to work with. They were even better than that Dream Catcher or whatever that digital editing system was called that had the removable 10,000 rpm hard drives. That damn thing effed up so many of my PSA's. Final Cut Pro FTW. Macs rescued me from the boring world of computer programming and broadened my horizons into graphics design and photography. Good times in high school.
Good job Apple! Oh wait, MS did this? Those dirty bastards!
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they don't need a zune, all they need is access to the internet via a high-speed connection...that way they can download the podcasts and listen to them at home where they will be used...it's not like the teacher is going to let them listen to the previous day's lecture during class the next day...wtf
I find this a waste. I bet half the kids already had iPods.
I like my Zune.
I owned a Zune for a year and a half, it was the worst device I have ever used. It was replaced three times, and later they finally updated the software....to like 2.5 or something...and that was really confusing...
But you can only guess what I now have instead...and it's the best MP3 player I've ever owned...and that's saying something. Thanks iPod...