As part of an effort to make future teachers more proficient with technology, the University of Texas is requiring juniors and seniors in some teacher preparation programs to have PowerBook G4s or iBooks when they enter this fall. So reports the Austin American-Statesman’s Erik Rodriguez in a new article entitled UT want Apple in students’ laps.
According to Rodriguez, the move is expected to affect about 300 students currently enrolled in the colleges of education, fine arts, liberal arts and natural sciences, but the program is expected to spread to other parts of the University as time goes on. Rodriguez reports that students without such systems won’t be able to enroll in teacher preparation programs.
The associate dean for teacher education for the University of Texas supports the decision to require a single platform. Associate dean Larry Abraham explained that the impetus to make Macs a requirement was to help teachers avoid wasting class time “figuring out what kind of computer” their students use.
It’s not the first program at the University of Texas to require laptops — a business program already requires MBA students to have a Windows-compatible laptop.
Apple is expected to make the systems available at a steep discount to the about 2,000 students currently enrolled in teaching programs and the College of Education. Rodriguez reported that as configured, the systems would cost US$2,500 retail, but will be available for about $1,000 to qualifying students.
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