“We noticed … that we’d get more for a lower cost from the Windows 8 platform,” Crain said.
So, the university invested in 2,700 Dell Windows 8 tablets for students and another 600 for faculty and staff. SIU also equipped its computer labs with docking stations for the tablets and is selling docks, bundles, and accessories in its campus store.
Were SIU officials concerned about the number of apps that would be available for the Windows 8 platform, compared with the number available for iOS or Android? Yes, Crain said, but when they looked into the apps that students would be using the most—Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and so on—they found there were Windows 8 versions of these.
The fact that SIU offers its own suite of campus apps helps as well.
Besides the usual campus information, which can be “pushed out” to students as needed, the Mobile Dawg app interfaces with Desire2Learn, SIU’s learning management system, so students can view their grades and assignments on their mobile devices. There are apps for responding to in-class quizzes or polls, and for taking notes in electronic versions of textbooks.
Students can see the real-time location of campus buses on an interactive map, so they can wait inside and not worry about missing their bus, Crain said. A “What’s in Front of Me” app labels the buildings and businesses on campus when students hold their smart phone or tablet in front of them with the camera activated. And with a “311” app, students can report a broken water fountain or other campus problem by submitting a photo of it.
One of the most popular apps in the Mobile Dawg suite is the one that tells users which washing machines are available—and even alerts them when their laundry is done. (Each machine has its own IP address, Crain explained, and information about its availability is pulled from the residence hall server.)
Jordan, the SIU freshman, believes most students his age are used to having instant access to information from wherever they are. “I think it’s only natural that students would expect the same from their classes,” he said.
In a response that bodes well for his chances of success, he says SIU’s Mobile Dawg initiative helps him feel more connected to the university and its community.
“It’s helped me get used to college,” he said. “It’s allowed me to get the information I need more easily—and it makes everything seem closer.”
Dennis Pierce is the Editor in Chief of eCampus News. Follow Dennis on Twitter at @eSN_Dennis.
- Can technology help schools prevent AI-based cheating? - April 7, 2023
- How to ensure digital equity in online testing - July 11, 2022
- How predictive analytics helps improve student enrollment and retention - December 17, 2020