Dollars and sense
Issue date: 4/20/09 Section: Opinion
Many students in the broadcasting department recently discovered that incoming students will be required to purchase laptops as early as next year. With this discovery came much debate about the expense of the software and the sudden decision to make the change.
The WC would like to weigh both the pros and cons of the department's decision to mandate incoming Broadcasting 101 students to purchase an Apple MacBook with additional Final Cut software.
Pros
Permitting each student to own their own personal laptop would improve the quality of the entire department. Students won't have to cram into audio labs at the last minute to complete editing projects, which can lead to better and more thorough projects. Students will not have to worry about the time constraints of working within the two-hour time limit of the lab as well. Overall, students will have the option of operating the software at all times. Teachers can now assign major projects over winter vacation and spring break, which will allow students to gain more experience with learning all of the applications and perfecting their editing skills.
Making an expensive investment like this would only weed out the students who are not serious about the field. The purchase would only ensure that certain students are serious about learning the software at a higher level. Also this would be an inevitable purchase for certain people if they seek to pursue a job in the broadcasting field post-graduation. It will be mandatory when attempting to edit projects professionally or independently. Students will not have access to the video labs forever, so purchasing it now may save some headaches when juggling other bills straight out of college.
The department's move to have undergrads Apple-certified in Final Cut is a great step in the right direction. This will add greater value to students who receive the certificate and the department can potentially be known as one that adequately trains students with the program. With unlimited access to Final Cut, adding this requirement will easily prepare students for passing the certificate exam.
The WC would like to weigh both the pros and cons of the department's decision to mandate incoming Broadcasting 101 students to purchase an Apple MacBook with additional Final Cut software.
Pros
Permitting each student to own their own personal laptop would improve the quality of the entire department. Students won't have to cram into audio labs at the last minute to complete editing projects, which can lead to better and more thorough projects. Students will not have to worry about the time constraints of working within the two-hour time limit of the lab as well. Overall, students will have the option of operating the software at all times. Teachers can now assign major projects over winter vacation and spring break, which will allow students to gain more experience with learning all of the applications and perfecting their editing skills.
Making an expensive investment like this would only weed out the students who are not serious about the field. The purchase would only ensure that certain students are serious about learning the software at a higher level. Also this would be an inevitable purchase for certain people if they seek to pursue a job in the broadcasting field post-graduation. It will be mandatory when attempting to edit projects professionally or independently. Students will not have access to the video labs forever, so purchasing it now may save some headaches when juggling other bills straight out of college.
The department's move to have undergrads Apple-certified in Final Cut is a great step in the right direction. This will add greater value to students who receive the certificate and the department can potentially be known as one that adequately trains students with the program. With unlimited access to Final Cut, adding this requirement will easily prepare students for passing the certificate exam.
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