Grant Request for Classroom Integration of iPod Touch Units

Purpose

BackgroundMobile technologies such as cellphones, smartphones, and small form-factor notebooks have become the most rapidly used and accepted devices since the introduction of the personal computer.1 Six out of ten people in the world now have cell phone subscriptions with internet use nearly doubling worldwide.2 We now have the capability to manage our digital communications through a single pocketable device with near-ubiquitous internet connection. The generation of students born in the early 1990ʼs have had some form of exposure to electronic, instant, worldwide communication and information, since they were born. This demographic is a challenging and hopeful one to teach, since they have long had access to vast amounts of media. The New Media Consortium and the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative published the 2009 Horizon Report that set mobile devices as the most likely technologies to be adopted in higher education within the next year.3

ObjectiveThe objective of this grant request is to explore the use of mobile technology for learning objectives at Northwest College for courses taught by Craig Satterlee and Micah Humphreys. We would like to be on the forefront for the state of Wyoming in using new mobile technologies to engage, interact, and explore with students on our campus, both in and out of the classroom

We have been impressed with the Apple iPod Touch because of its ease of use, software and hardware reliability, wireless connectivity, and expandability through downloadable applications for a wide variety of educational disciplines. These iPod Touches are much more than just iPods - they allow for downloading and viewing of podcasts, web content authoring and viewing, student response system implementation, and much more.4

1 Jordans, Frank. "ABC News: World's Poor Drive Growth in Global Cell Phone Use." ABC News: Online news, breaking news, feature stories and more. 02 Mar. 2009. 09 Mar. 2009 <http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=6986939>.

2 Fermoso, Jose. "U.N. World Report Picks Up Massive Growth in Mobile Phone Ownership | Gadget Lab from Wired.com." Blogs Home - Wired Blogs. 4 Mar. 2009. 09 Mar. 2009 <http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2009/03/report-60-of-wo.html>.

3 Johnson, L., A. Levine, and R. Smith. The 2009 Horizon Report. Rep. Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium, 2009.

4 For an instructional video on the uses of the iPod Touch, please visit [http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/guidedtour/tour/medium.html].

TimelineThe projected timeline for funding would include a purchase of the units in May or June so that there is ample time for setup, installation of applications, initial creation of content, and testing of the wireless networking over the summer. The iPod Touch units would be deployed in the designated Agroecology (AECL 1000) and Photography (PHTO 2710 & 2720) courses beginning Fall ʼ09. Students in the Agroecology course would use the units during the course of the semester and then return them in December, while Photography students would use the units for a two-course sequence and would return them in May 2010. All students using the devices would complete an evaluation which would be completed for review by the Academic Computing Committee, Academic Advisory Committee, and other interested parties.

Institutional PrioritiesSince NWC is an institution devoted to quality instruction for students, the availability of devices that would increase student engagement and participation would be very valuable. The use of these devices is directly in line with NWCʼs particular commitment to be a dynamic educational leader5 as well as our college-wide goal to “Apply new technologies to build stronger student relationships with each other and the College”6 and creating “educational opportunities both within and beyond the classroom.”7

Impact

MonetaryThe monetary impact of these devices is minimal in terms of ongoing costs. Setup and maintenance would be carried out by the respective instructors, as we have both had experience with iPod Touches. There may need to be an expansion of the wireless capabilities on campus, but Computer Services is already planning to improve these facilities.

ProgrammaticThe impact of these devices would be an increased engagement by the students. For instance, with the iPod Touch, students will have instant access to all Blackboard materials through a free application on their units. But the Touch is much more than a device for collecting and viewing instructional materials (though it excels at that through podcast downloads and full web-browsing capabilities), it will also be used for in-class polling of students to provide the instructors with an instant snapshot of studentʼs grasp of the material. Student Response Systems have grown in use on college campuses,

5 "Vision & Mission :: 2008-10 Strategic Plan :: Northwest College." Home :: Northwest College :: Powell, Wyoming. Northwest College. 09 Mar. 2009 <http://www.northwestcollege.edu/strategicplan/vision_mission.dot>.

6 Northwest College Catalog. Strategic Goals: Priority - Student Access and Success. Powell, 2008.

7 "Enduring Values :: 2008-10 Strategic Plan :: Northwest College." Home :: Northwest College :: Powell, Wyoming. Northwest College. 09 Mar. 2009 <http://www.northwestcollege.edu/strategicplan/values.dot>.

and are well-known for improving interaction and learning during the class period.8 The iPod Touch will also be used to supplement lectures both prior to and after the scheduled lecture. Through social networking services like Twitter, blogs, and instant messaging both instructors and students can communicate class-related material to enhance the sense of community within the class. We want to explore this mobile technology in our classrooms not for the sake of the technology itself, but for the improved ability to engage students in active, participatory learning. For each program, we have included possible uses of the Touch through available services and applications for the platform below.

Agroecology (AECL 1000):Blackboard access (notes, lectures, assignments, grades)Google Earth application (in-class exploration via worldwide maps)Google Documents (Touch used to enter experimental data into spreadsheets for evaluation)Podcasts/Video (plant identification videos for study, lecture recordings, supplemental podcasts produced at other institutions)Twitter (microblogging software that provides both linking and messaging)AccuWeather application (students will review current conditions and their impact on agroecosystems)gFlash application (flash card application for reviewing terminology and information for memorization)Responseware (in-class polling and quizzing with instant displayable results)Units application (unit conversions calculator)Stanza/Google Book Search application (ebook reader for reference)Ustream.tv application (live lecture viewing)

Photography (PHTO 2710 & 2720):Blackboard access (notes, lectures, assignments, grades)Podcasts/Video (plant identification videos for study, lecture recordings, supplemental podcasts produced at other institutions)Twitter (microblogging software that provides both linking and messaging)Responseware (in-class polling and quizzing with instant displayable results)Flickr (online photo-sharing website for portfolio review and critique)Portfolio use (iPod Touch will serve as a part of the studentsʼ portfolio production)PhotoCalc (calculates exposure reciprocation, depth of field, flash, and a reference section)

Regarding personnel needs, we would need some initial help from computer services in order to register the Touches on the campus network. Beyond that, the instructor will be able to handle any technical problems that may arise. It should be noted that if an iPod Touch unit were to malfunction, a student would be able to carry out most of the

8 Bruff, Derek. Teaching with Classroom Response Systems: Creating Active Learning Environments. Jossey-Bass, 2009.

associated tasks (data entry, mapping, in-class polling, etc) through a personal computer or a department-owned computer while their unit is being repaired.

As mentioned above, the use of the iPod Touch in the classroom would be in line with our instructional goals as well as the specific goals for the particular programs.

Beyond student engagement, this project should serve as a stimulus and discussion point for faculty use of a variety of technologies. The implementation of iPod Touches in the classroom would also provide the College with groundbreaking foresight regarding mobile technologies in the classroom that is unparalleled in the state of Wyoming both at the two- and four-year institutions.

Budget

Below is an itemized budget for the 25 iPod Touch unit project.

Item Cost

25 iPod Touch 8 GB units $5,725.00

25 Protective Cases $250.00

1 Mac Mini computer (setup, maintenance, support of units) $550.00

Application Costs (downloadable to devices) $200.00

Total $6,725.00

Other Funding Sources

As this is a fairly new technology, the use of departmental funds is not feasible. Other options are being pursued through Title III, but no monies have been approved.

Evaluation

Feedback from this project will be given in written form to the Academic Computing Committee, Academic Advisory Committee, the President, NWC Board, and other interested parties as they are identified. Student evaluations, faculty reflection, and any media attention will be included. The faculty will also provide a complete description of the advantages, disadvantages, and general utility of the units in the learning environment.