tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273077195457377371.post8824433266601978109..comments2023-10-05T23:00:32.066-04:00Comments on Dreambound: Semi-OT: Requiring a Data Plan?Kaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16164718601021220108noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273077195457377371.post-25396853879939785452010-08-28T03:58:48.771-04:002010-08-28T03:58:48.771-04:00You know what, I stand corrected on the price:
htt...You know what, I stand corrected on the price:<br />http://www.telusmobility.com/en/BC/plans/student40.shtml<br /><br />That's cheaper than what I pay currently. I actually need to look into whether my current provider will match that deal now, heh.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09024178082042301533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273077195457377371.post-1876475021992353622010-08-27T13:32:03.520-04:002010-08-27T13:32:03.520-04:00Tenure ;)Tenure ;)Kaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16164718601021220108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273077195457377371.post-16443250479974346732010-08-26T20:16:30.260-04:002010-08-26T20:16:30.260-04:00"The biggest stumbling block is instructors t..."The biggest stumbling block is instructors themselves who are either technologically illiterate or stubbornly insist that posting their course content online means that the university is going to replace them with a computer."<br /><br />Then those are the instructors that NEED to get replaced :-) Many of us have worked long and hard to provide our students with the very best teaching/learning opportunities. To think that a "teacher" would stifle a student's opportunity for FREELY available materials and content is absurd. Again, those are the ones that very well COULD be replaced by robots.Dr. Cynicismhttp://www.cynicism101.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273077195457377371.post-2866122145776814922010-08-26T15:43:52.948-04:002010-08-26T15:43:52.948-04:00@Rhii:
Is it waterproof? :) If so, I stand corr...@Rhii: <br />Is it waterproof? :) If so, I stand corrected! I recently got a new waterproof camera phone, which I didn't think was possible; it is my first "new phone" since my first cell phone, as all my others were hand-me-downs from my husband. It's (iirc) a Casio? Verizon thingy? I can't check because.... I left it at home >_><br /><br />@Rul: <br />I wondered the same thing about the lock-ins on data plans, but I don't think they're all incredibly strict. Kit and I recently killed his data plan when we realized how little we actually made use of it (compared to price), and I don't recall us having any trouble turning it off. A lock-in problem *would* occur, though, when the campus is in an area not covered by the student's current network, especially for international students, forcing them to get a new phone plan.<br /><br />@Dr. Cynicism: <br />Indeed :) Of course, I do work in distance learning, and part of my job is all about making websites and digitizing content/class presentations, and scheduling online meeting spaces. The biggest stumbling block is instructors themselves who are either technologically illiterate or stubbornly insist that posting their course content online means that the university is going to replace them with a computer.Kaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16164718601021220108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273077195457377371.post-37096188422885118062010-08-26T15:29:49.398-04:002010-08-26T15:29:49.398-04:00Er, also, I think it's a terrible idea to mand...Er, also, I think it's a terrible idea to mandate data plans for college students. I don't wanna come across as pro-mandate. Just I liked my blackberry, and didn't want to see it made out to be a delicate flower when the reality was that I probably could have done anything to it short of running it over with my car and still had a functional phone.Rhiihttp://www.isheepthings.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273077195457377371.post-7987423009803348962010-08-26T15:26:13.966-04:002010-08-26T15:26:13.966-04:00@Rul - I used to work for a cell phone company and...@Rul - I used to work for a cell phone company and the data plans were not under a particular contract, only the phone line itself. It was however, required to have a data plan for the duration of the time that you used a smartphone... but if you, say, dropped your smartphone down a hole in the field and switched over to a standard phone, you weren't obligated to keep the data package.<br /><br />And @Kae - as a result of working for the cell company I owned a blackberry (which I would not have bought otherwise) and it was FAR FAR FAR more durable than any standard phone I've had before or since. That thing was practically indestructible. The only reason I no longer have it is because I lost it in the woods during a somewhat strenuous camping weekend about a year ago. ;) Give the blackberry its due, it's rugged.Rhiihttp://www.isheepthings.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273077195457377371.post-18044538804188799092010-08-26T14:59:19.502-04:002010-08-26T14:59:19.502-04:00Also, I'm not sure the answer to this, but is ...Also, I'm not sure the answer to this, but is it even possible to get a short-term data plan? The requirement may be forcing students to pay more even after the class is done due to contracts.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09024178082042301533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273077195457377371.post-30616077561830099592010-08-26T14:51:50.612-04:002010-08-26T14:51:50.612-04:00That's ridiculous. I'm not sure what data ...That's ridiculous. I'm not sure what data plan prices are like in the US, but in Canada, it's a good 80% increase over the basic phone plans ($40/month to $70+/month).<br /><br />Really, to me, the only point of data plans are if you're in a profession that requires time sensitive information and/or do not have reliable access to an internet connection throughout the day. What could possibly be so time sensitive for a university class that couldn't wait until the student could check his or her e-mail at home? If it's needed *during* the class, it should either be scheduled in a lab in the first place, or at least give students the option of using their own laptop.<br /><br />Seriously, that's just dumb. I'd either drop the class or request to be compensated if it was made a requirement for any of my classes.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09024178082042301533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273077195457377371.post-84036060236232478092010-08-26T14:45:42.333-04:002010-08-26T14:45:42.333-04:00I also work at a major university... and I think t...I also work at a major university... and I think the phone idea would be unfair to say the least. Hell, we still catch !@#$ for mandating that all students must have readily accessible internet access (the truth is that not all students are privileged or wealthy enough). But data plans?? How unfair is that?! In my opinion, the step that should be taken PRIOR to demanding such nonsense is to offer course materials via the internet. Books, content, and class materials via interactive web site, PDFs, or other various applications. Fight it Kae!Dr. Cynicismhttp://www.cynicism101.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273077195457377371.post-10553429807820178292010-08-26T12:11:24.813-04:002010-08-26T12:11:24.813-04:00Mmn, I know what you mean about the campus alerts....Mmn, I know what you mean about the campus alerts. The initial tests bogged down the phone system and it took hours and hours for everyone to get the message. I'm not sure where it's at right now, but a mass text to a whole campus of students and staff of a huge university isn't something most systems are prepared to handle.<br /><br />In an ideal world... well, we wouldn't even have a need for an emergency alert system.<br /><br /><br />Puppy: I have a photo to post tomorrow ;) River's so photogenic. She's a Malamute, herself... I love the personality, even if it is a stubborn one!Kaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16164718601021220108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5273077195457377371.post-79063844856989887602010-08-26T11:40:07.307-04:002010-08-26T11:40:07.307-04:00I work for a major university as well and have see...I work for a major university as well and have seen this issue pop up from time to time in regards to campus security. In the aftermath of campus shootings and some of the more mundane but much more frequent concerns of really bad southern storm weather - the desire to have all students/faculty/staff opt in to a mandatory text plan for cell phones was raised. This brings up a lot of issues in regards to privacy if nothing else. Not even going to go into cost.<br /><br />Oh and hey - MOAR PUPPEHS! My wife and I have been mooning over Little River for days. We're looking at adopting a 9 week old husky pup ourselves and seeing your little buddy just about put us over the edge.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com