CIT is currently accepting applications for use of its pool of approximately 125 iPads, iPad2s, and third-generation iPads. This pool is dedicated to student/faculty use in semester-long courses. Interested Duke faculty whose instructional goals are compatible with CIT’s annual investigative goals as listed below may submit an application to use iPads in their class. First consideration will be given to applications received before November 9, 2012. Applicants who apply before this date will be notified about the approval status of their requests prior to the Thanksgiving break. Additional information and a link to the application can be found on the iPad Course Loan page.
During the 2012–13 academic year, CIT invites faculty to join us in investigating iPads and their impact on students’ educational experience in the following ways:
1. Using iPads to Engage Students In Class
This year, CIT will loan iPads to faculty (and students enrolled in their class) who agree to integrate apps designed specifically for use inside the classroom into their curricula and report their results regarding the experience back to CIT.
iPads and other mobile devices have great potential to increase engagement during face-to-face class meetings. A number of applications have been developed that facilitate this. LectureTools and Nearpod, among others, allow faculty to share presentation materials with students and engage in real-time assessment through quizzes and polling. Students can also make notes on presentation materials and refer back to these when studying outside of class.
2. e-Textbooks – Producing and Consuming
CIT will loan iPads to faculty who agree to use iBooks Author, or a similar program, to build an e-textbook to use with future classes, or to faculty (and students enrolled in their class) who agree to use e-textbooks to replace traditional course materials. Faculty whose applications are accepted will be asked to share information about their experience using the iPads with CIT.
CIT is continuing to investigate the use of e-textbooks in place of more traditional course materials such as printed textbooks and course packs. E-textbook publishers are continually improving their delivery applications over time in response to a general feeling among students that current solutions are difficult to interact with (navigating, taking notes, bookmarking). Additionally, programs like Apple’s iBooks Author now allow instructors to quickly and easily create course materials that can be delivered to students via the iPad and other devices.
Wow, that’s crazy. They considered buying some at the University of Colorado – Boulder, but i guess it didn’t work out. It’s awesome it worked at Duke!