More on iPhone Applications

We've mentioned previously that creating relevant campus applications for the iPhone is one of many student services that IT departments should give attention to in 2009. Several items I have seen recently have reminded me of just how important this is.

Abilene Christian University is the first of likely many universities to incorporate the iPhone into campus life; while this video is a dramatization, it does give us a picture of what future iPhone applications could do for the classroom and for everyday student life. Imagine a world where the iPhone really is a student's "campus lifeline"--the video is worth a look. (Incidentally, ACU has an impressive information commons in the library; I attended a presentation from their director last year and made a few notes.)

Speaking of libraries, I wrote a bit recently about a new iPhone application which allows users to search the library catalog, place holds, and view summaries/book jackets. The code will eventually be available to other libraries so that they too can build iPhone applications for their local catalogs.

A post today on The Chronicle's Wired Campus blog discusses a new iPhone application created by Georgia Tech students which provides an interface to several campus services. The application gives students iPhone-friendly access to campus email, a campus map, a bus schedule, and the course management system. One particularly nifty feature is that the application also includes a real-time computer availability map to see when a machine is available in their information commons. This is seriously cool.

Incidentally a librarian had suggested that the students incorporate the computer availability map into their application. He has a very good point about the importance of working together to build applications:

It is easy for us (as librarians) to complain that we don’t have money or staff to develop cool things—but sometimes that’s ok, because maybe we can partner with those who are (doing cool things) and get our materials and resources included in their work. Instead of investing our time in “a library app” we can attach ourselves to an already popular and successful app and gain a wider audience.

I couldn't agree more. So as IT departments (or groups of students) look to building iPhone applications, consider working with libraries and other campus departments to incorporate important student resources into your applications. Those applications will be far more valuable to students, and certainly we librarians will thank you for it.

Interesting Student Technologies in 2009

2009 will be a challenging year for universities as campus needs, budgets, and technologies all struggle for our attention. Some key student needs/expectations in 2009:

1. iPhone is the real winner. The iPhone will challenge university IT departments to offer students information in a new user interface. IT departments must develop new applications to allow students to use student information systems and course management systems on mobile devices, particularly the iPhone. Facebook sets a high standard on the iPhone interface that must be met by IT departments.

2. Online course response systems are driving students crazy. Students are requesting university IT departments standardize on a single course response clicker. Currently faculty members are establishing contracts with textbook publishers to use proprietary clickers. Students will demand a single standard clicker for all classes. Several universities have developed course response software for cell phones, and it would be wonderful if Turning Point would establish an iPhone application.

3. Students want universities to develop team study environments. Libraries have taken the lead here with the popular information commons model. Libraries that developed information commons are enjoying success and are finding record numbers of students visiting. The information commons that are most successful are those which are partnerships of multiple campus units, such as libraries, IT, and teaching/learning centers. A good source of information about the commons environment is Stacey Greenwell’s blog, The Uncommon Commons.

4. Facebook is the meeting place for college students. Universities that understand this and successfully integrate Facebook with campus systems will be relevant. Information Technology departments that ignore social networking will be ignored by students.

5. Google and Microsoft have developed very good collaborative tools for the university marketplace. Collaborative learning is very popular with high school and college students, and students have already adopted many free online collaborative tools. University IT departments must find ways to support both Microsoft and Google tools in their customer support centers.