Missouri Journalism School Requires iPhone/iPod Touch

University of Missouri's School of Journalism will require incoming freshmean to have an iPod Touch or an iPhone, the Missourian reports. The devices are being pushed as a learning device to encourage students to rewatch lectures. "Lectures are the worst possible learning format," said an associate dean at the journalism school. "There's been some research done that shows if a student can hear that lecture a second time, they retain three times as much of that lecture."

Students who have no desire to buy an iPod Touch ($229) or an iPhone ($199) will not actually be penalized for not having one, and school officials say the devices are listed as "required" only to make the purchase of one more eligible for financial aid. Students will also be able to view lectures on their computers.