While tablet and smart phone manufacturers are churning forward at a breakneck pace, making a fortune on humanity’s device-lust, the compelling back-story is what these devices can do – the proliferation of Apps. And while addiction and burn-out on the distracting nature of most apps is already big news, there is also a rapid emergence of meaningful, productive and educational apps. The app-world as a resource for learning is huge.
Opportunity Statement
It may seem like the design of successful Apps is pure chance, and less likely than the lottery. However, as app-capable devices permeate learning environments the opportunity arises to design apps that are deliberated coupled in effective ways with every dimension of the learning experience.
Prediction Source(s)
Gartner – Media Tablets and Beyond
Gartner – Mobile-Centric Applications
Gartner – Top 10 Technology Trends 2013
This is an exploding market with limitless educational potential. The overlap/fine line between education and entertainment in apps would be interesting to explore.
Apps are something that people use everyday. I know that I often use the phrase “I have an app for that” except when it comes to my professional life. Sure when I was teaching math, there are calculators and other fancy apps that are essentially calculators. But if we could create meaningful apps to use in the classroom, or that as teachers we can link up with due dates and assignments, the possibilities are endless. I’d love to see what could happen if we put as much effort into educational apps as we did creating entertaining apps.
Although I’m no longer working in the math department of my company, I know that we have several committees to try and develop one or more apps to compete with the offerings from our competitors. So far, I’ve told them to stop R&D on one, because all the math apps have essentially been “done”. Therein lies the problem of educational vs entertainment apps – and “edutainment” apps are a bit contrived.
Math was just an example I pulled out because that is where my comfort zone is, but now that I’m teaching business, I’d like something that my students can use. I understand what you mean when you say that edutainment apps are contrived, but do they have to be? I find anytime I play a game in my class it is always a bit cheesy, but the students still enjoy it. With all the places to collaborate with colleagues, is it not possible to create an app that is educational and entertaining, but not cheesy?
I don’t know if there’s a medical student or resident who doesn’t use a medical app. There are also diagnostic games (which I must admit, I was a little addicted to just a year ago….). There’s so much potential in app use within medical education. This is definitely an area of interest for me.
I work in healthcare with clients who have diabetes. There are lots of different apps out there to help people manage this complex chronic disease. I have yet to see one for pregnant women who have gestational diabetes, but can see it being useful.
I agree that apps can be incredibly powerful, but in my school we have developed a philosophy to “determine what the students need, and find an app that meets that need” rather than finding an app and trying to work it into the learning.
There are a variety of aforementioned facets regarding the topic of apps that I will not repeat, but I will add: I find the topic of apps to be interesting, not only because of the opportunity to engage learners who are ever toying with their devices, but also because of the politics app stores and the ultimate availability of apps on the market.
The whole world loves apps! I think it would be an amazing advantage to educators to be able to develop apps specific to their own or their students’ needs.
I concur that the use of apps in the educational field is potentially limitless. I think the true power in app development however is in students creating their own apps related to the learning taking place in their subject areas. Students could write apps that would enhance their learning as well as the learning of others using their apps. The type of app they write is also intriguing. Is it an informational app, or does it use a game format? What type of multimedia is included? As app development kits get easier to use and more intuitive to the everyday, non-programmer user I think we will see more and more educators use this tool to enrich and enhance the learning in their programs.
Apps have become an important part when dealing with the student population with diverse needs. I provide the students and instructors with toolboxes of apps that could be used in their learning and teaching.