Arkansas school to trial iPod, WiFi-equipped school bus

If you thought taking a ride on the GamerBUS was a thrill, this one will really make you long to be a youngster in Arkansas again. Reportedly, the Sheridan school district is launching the Aspirnaut Initiative to bring laptops, iPods, and wireless internet right onto Bus 46, and amazingly, they expect kids to actually glean knowledge rather than hit up a round or two of Counter-Strike. The project hopes to make the unbelievably long (three hours, to be exact) commute that some rural students face a bit less boring and a tad more educational, as students will have access to informational podcasts and web-based learning modules whilst cruising on home. Interestingly, the three-year pilot project will not give students class credit for their extra effort initially, but for brainiacs who stick with the program, they'll purportedly be keeping the goods for themselves once the trial run concludes.

[Via ArsTechnica]

[Jesse S @ Apr 18th 2007 4:11AM]

Why not use a GOOD DAP/PMP?

[Jeremy @ Apr 18th 2007 10:09AM]

Wow! My home state does something tech-forward? Look out world! :-)

[Phillip Lamb @ Apr 18th 2007 10:10AM]

As a graduate of the Arkansas School System, I can attest to these incredibly long bus rides. I lived for three years in a town of about 30 people, and while my bus ride was 45 minutes instead of three hours, we were usually pretty bored. It's a nice idea. However, Arkansas is a POOR state. My family's gross income while I was in school was about $40,000 - for two parents and five children - so I hope the school system will be providing the laptops for those bus trips.

[peterrpearce @ Apr 18th 2007 10:59AM]

They should take the money from this ridiculous initiative and spend it on improving the american school system