Hmmmmm an awful lot of Universities are working with students to develop in-house iPhone applications. From the University of Maryland’s Mobility Initiative which includes a new computer science class that will teach students how to program software for the iPhone and iPod Touch to DePauw University who is working with a university junior to build an iPhone application from scratch to Standford’s development of iStanford spear-headed by a group of students.
Now this could just be a crazy as…inine idea, but wouldn’t it be cool to have a Learning Lab for students? They could submit proposals for technology initiatives that they want to see implemented in the classroom (which would be reviewed by a committee) and with the support of interested IT groups, the students could turn their idea into a reality.
It raises important questions about who will “own” and/or maintain the application/software/whatever you would like to call it after the students graduate, but still it seems to be happening at several universities with much success and support!
Students have fantastic ideas but they don’t always have the resources. I think student-generated ideas for technology in the classroom would also provide students with a greater sense of autonomy over their education. It would also provide an opportunity for faculty involvement or at the very least faculty approval. I bet a lot of faculty want to do interesting things in the classroom but don’t have the time for training, etc – with the help of students, perhaps the burden wouldn’t be so great.
EHH training and the lack of time (which seems to be a problem for everyone and their mother – where does time go?) two other cans of worms. Another day, another blog. Holla.
Oh I wanted to mention – I read a great article somewhere that discussed tapping into student brains for ideas for education reform. It stated that this should not make IT groups feel obsolete in the least because people who have been working in IT for years have a better grasp of the overall structure and systemic implications of implementing any kind of new/disruptive technology. At the same time students possess the naivete that allows them to cook up some crazy as…inine ideas that having too much knowledge might hinder.
Ahh the many skills necessary for innovation – people who possess deep-seated knowledge of the subject matter and those who possess a pure naivete that allows them to question and see alternatives. It’s like a yin and yang kinda thang.
