What a great homework assignment! Ithaca College is offering 5,000 dollars for the best 30-second movie shot entirely with a cell phone. Both college and high school students may enter.

The contest reveals a rather fascinating trend in the changing face of higher education. From Business Week:

It may come off like a gimmick, but Dean Dianne Lynch has no doubts about the contest's academic value.

In today's media marketplace -- where cell phones can take pictures, play music and games and connect to Web sites -- it's all about thinking small and mobile.

"Historically, we've always had students thinking bigger and bigger. It's gone from radio to television to the movie screen, to the era of blockbuster films. All of a sudden, things have reversed and everything is getting smaller," said Lynch.I can't wait to see the masterpieces students will create.