More than a few colleges are giving their incoming freshmen iPods or even iPhones. While there is a certain amount of marketing in that, and the Apple products do have educational purposes, some professors are dubious, according to the New York Times. The challenge is to write apps that deliver on the promise.

Colleges want to be seen as on the cutting edge as well as jazzing up their students even as they tout the advantages of the device. However, professors who aren’t keeping up with technology have a choice: pooh-pooh the devices or engage the students by seeing to it that the smart handheld devices are rolled into the learning experience.

In some cases, bored students admit to pulling out an iPod touch and surfing right in the class.

As a result of the pervasive technology, some professors, the traditional repositories of wisdom, could be left behind.

"We think this is the way the future is going to work, said Kyle Dickson, co-director of research and the mobile learning initiative at Abilene Christian University in Texas. The school recently decided to give each of its incoming freshmen either an iPod touch or an iPhone.

Other colleges such as the University of Maryland, Oklahoma Christian University, and Freed-Hardeman in Tennessee have announced similar plans. Other schools are either keeping the plans secret for now or are exploring options.

The Internet, Macs and hand held smart devices like the iPod touch have created a culture of connectivity and information access for young people, and now they’re taking those devices to college. Nowadays, it may be the professors who have to catch up with technology ... at least until those students are asked to explain how the integrated circuits in the iPod are manufactured and function. Then, it’s very likely the engineering professors will have something important to teach the students. That is, if the students take off their ear buds long enough.