In the fall of 2008, ACU became the first university to announce distribution of Apple iPhones and iPod touches to the incoming freshman class, allowing us to explore a new vision for mobile learning.
During the university's June and August orientation sessions, ACU administrators handed out the next-generation Apple iPhone 3GS for the new freshman class to begin using over the summer. This second phase of implementation of mobile devices continues ACU's efforts to provide new opportunities for professors and students to interact, explore and discover in and out of the classroom.
Freshmen use their iPhones or iPod touches to receive homework alerts, answer in-class surveys and quizzes, get directions to their professors' offices, and check their meal and account balances. Applications from Apple's online App Store helped many teachers discover new ways of teaching their courses.
The introduction of a portal, ACU Mobile, helps connect students to the campus through news and calendars, course documents and media, as well as a Pocket Guide to local events, restaurants, sports and more.
"Our research last year clearly showed these converged media devices have an impact on the students' engagement," says Kevin Roberts, associate vice president for operations at ACU. "We are very excited about having two classes of students benefitting from this new learning technology in the 21st century classroom."
