Studywiz iPad Learning Environment Project
Today, carrying your phone or music player is as essential as carrying cash or your house keys – possibly even more so. We’re all constantly using these devices for learning – whether it is reading the latest news whilst sitting on the bus, learning a foreign language by listening to a podcast before our next holiday, or checking up on what our friends have been doing when waiting in line at the coffee shop. This is learning and it is learning that takes place on our terms.
Studywiz has seen the value in supporting mobile devices for learning from the very beginning. When the original iPod came out we offered a way for learners to sync audio, video and calendars from Studywiz to their iPod for access on the go and offline. When Apple released the iPhone, providing easy access to the web, we developed a mobile interface to Studywiz, allowing students and teachers to utilise Studywiz no matter where they were. So it’s no surprise that we are looking to help schools get the very most out the iPad and to extend real learning opportunities as far as possible. The iPad is a fantastic device that is changing the way people think of, and use, computers. For education, the potential of the iPad is no less significant.
The iPad already has a number of apps that are excellent for education and for supporting learning. Many of these apps allow for the sharing of content, and offer very good standalone functionality. However, few apps provide students and teachers with the tools required to build a connected learning environment. This is an area where Studywiz has something to offer.
To ensure that we develop iPad and iOS apps that actually meet the needs of learners and educators we have formed the “iPad Learning Environment Project” and included a selection of customers who already have a wealth of experience and knowledge in learning with mobile devices. The project group consists of seven schools from Europe, Asia and Australia and represents an extremely diverse blend of schools across the private, public and international school sector, and the full spectrum of learners from early years to year 12 students.
The participating schools are:
The purpose of the group is to define the requirements for a set of learning apps which will be truly useful, and usable, for students and teachers. The group is currently engaged in refining the requirements for the Studywiz eLocker 2.0 App, to be released in Q2 2011. Features of the eLocker 2.0 include:
- iPad and iPhone specific versions to make use of additional iPad screen real estate.
- Automated creation of and access to class shared eLockers and student dropboxes.
- Support for Video and Audio creation
- Full support of “Open With” functionality, to allow content within an eLocker to be edited with iPad Apps such as Pages, Numbers and Keynote.
After the release of this app it is expected that the group will continue to steer the development of further apps to be released in late 2011/early 2012.
It is already clear from the work of the group that the apps will not be about simple resource management but instead will seek to offer new possibilities for personalisation, dialogue and feedback.
To follow the progress of the research and be alerted when relevant findings are published, or new apps available, just register your interest by submitting an email with your contact details to:
Related Resources
- ICT for Educators – Apple Studywiz Trip: Day 2 – blog post about a visit to Acacia College