Our lives are dramatically changed as people push technology past its boundaries. Fifty years ago, homework is written material. It would not be printed from a computer. Most of our sources would be books instead of the Internet. In the same way, the invention of iPod will give learning a whole new perspective.

We all know iPod. It is a portable mp3 player. But it can do many more things. Mods like iPod Linux, iPod games, iPod calendar, etc are some new ideas that are currently being tested on our iPods. These inventions almost make one feel that technology is all there is to life. But that’s not true. Life is more than owning the latest technologies. Recently, a university professor suggested that we should use iPod as a learning buddy? I think it’s a creative idea. However, this idea creates many problems.

Sure, learning with iPod is easier and ever more portable than going to seminars, but would you do it? I mean when you can choose between listening to music, watching a video, and playing a game, and learning, which one would you choose? Learning would not be the priority. Learning with an iPod is similar to Mary Ward’s independent learning program. Many grade 9s transfers at the end of each year because they don’t have the self control to choose learning over gaming. After all, it is really tempting to do the wrong thing.

Through my years at Mary Ward, I’ve found that even the most perfect students make mistakes. No one is perfect after all. We can always be tempted by something. What makes us ignore them is pressure. Academic pressure. In school, we have teachers who force us to finish our work and threaten to reduce our marks if we don’t hand it in on time. Indeed, it is this pressure that keeps us going. I mean how many of us have the self-control to learn rather than play in our summer holidays? I would say only less than 1% of people in this world can do that.


The past summer, I took an eclass course online. It is similar to the idea of Podcast, where I stayed home and learned through the internet. I was able to work in groups via the internet using forums and chat room. If I wanted to talk with my teacher, I could either email him or book a chat time online. It all sounds great right. But I had too much freedom. I got up at noon everyday and worked until midnight. However, I still weren’t able to finish all my work on time. Why? Because I’m working on the computer. I was constantly distracted by the popping sounds of MSN, the fun of games, and the feeling that is telling me to take a break. Not a very good learning environment.

As a result, a lot of my classmates dropped the course. I was one of the lucky ones who were able to gain self control after the first few days of horrific learning. That’s what happens with independent learning. We aren’t mature enough to make the right choice.

Mary Ward is a fun school only if you can control yourself. If you aren’t able to resist the tempting games, then you may be in trouble. I think Mary Ward should not embrace such technology. Firstly, it’s expensive and costly for students. So budget is a problem, especially with the TCDSB facing the $34.6 million budget shortfall. Another problem as I stated before is that many people won’t choose work over entertainment. That’s just how humans are. We need pressure to work. Sure, giving students iPod give them more freedom and mobility, but I don’t think high school kids are mature enough to use it properly. The article tells us the technology was applied in a university. I think they targeted an older youth group on purpose. Older people are more mature and have more self control than high school teenagers.