When we watched Steve Jobs introduce the iPhone - a device to bring together content, mobility and communication in a way no other device had ever done - we knew we had the platform for a new kind of teaching and learning that could serve this incoming generation of students.
- Dr. Bill Rankin
Dr. William Rankin, associate professor
of English and director of educational
innovation at ACU, was named an Apple
Distinguished Educator in the class of 2009
by Apple Inc. ADEs exchange ideas and
information about effective ways to integrate
new technologies into educational settings.
Mobile learning takes off at ACU
Abilene Christian University's mobile learning engages students and faculty in research, collaboration and innovative learning methods. By providing opportunities for discovery that didn't exist in the classroom before, we are transforming the shape of the classroom to a model of engagement, where each student becomes a resource to the class.
Chemistry lab experiments
with mobile methodology
Mobile-Learning Fellow Cynthia Powell conducted a controlled study investigating the impact of modifying the primary mode of instruction in a laboratory course. Using a special section of her course limited to full-time entering freshmen, her experimentation involved the substitution of podcasts in place of in-class lectures for lab instructions and safety protocols. Student performance averages show a slight advantage for iPhone/iPod touch students on all components used to calculate the overall course grade.
Stewllenium Radio offers
financial management tips online
Like most faculty members, Dr. Jonathan Stewart never feels he has enough time to cover all his material in class. He has hit on an innovative way to get the extra information to his students: a podcast. Stewart's podcast, Stewllenium Radio, is enhanced with music and sound effects to make it more entertaining. "My hope is that the playful, over-the-top nature of the show resonates with my students and makes it seem more like entertainment and less like a lecture," says the professor of accounting and finance.
Biochemistry teacher integrates NANO tools into classroom
Dr. Autumn Sutherlin, assistant professor of biochemistry, has found the iPhone NANO tools – applications which allow teachers to poll students using their iPhones - to be a great way to help students review for exams.
iPhone takes lead role in theatre classes
Dr. Adam Hester, professor and chair of the theatre department, has found numerous ways to use the iPhone in his classes. He has used a calculator application to determine square footage of set pieces, played music for cast warm-ups through iTunes, used the searchable Shakespeare app during ACU's annual Shakespeare Festival, and even used the Pitch Pro app in lieu of a piano during rehearsals.
Journalism students learn new ways to deliver news
Dr. Kenneth Pybus, who is faculty adviser for The Optimist student newspaper, and his student team have developed an iPhone interface for the newspaper's website.
English students turn pages of story in a virtual world
Dr. Kyle Dickson, associate professor of English, has found that his students want to read not only syllabi and course reference documents on their iPhones – they also want to read stories.
ACU leads the way in mobile learning
Since the inception of Abilene Christian University's mobile learning initiative in 2007, faculty, staff and administrators have given numerous webcasts and presentations worldwide.
