Android Hot Team
This semester I sit in the hot team exploring Android's educational application. I am very excited about this project since it has become more and more obvious that mobile users have reached to the point where we cannot ignore when we provide our services.
I am more interested in trying out Android for its flexibility -- we currently have in-house iPhone developers but no one can develop on Android yet. Considering Android actually has a larger user base, it makes sense to fill the gap.
Potential projects
1. Mobile version of Penn State's Amazing Race
Currently, this project needs a powerful full-fledge computer/laptop to run Google Earth. One of the applications we were considering for this game is to use Penn State Campus map as the content for various orientations. For example, new students orientation can use this to familiarize new students with important campus buildings and resources.
A mobile version of this application will not only engage the students physically, it will also open the possibility of indoor use, as opposed to outdoor GPS-based only, because Android allows developers to access various useful sensors. For example, the library can use it to have an orientation of various resources and their location.
2. Classroom tools
Besides non-PSU-classroom specific tools such as recording, presentation, RSS, podcasting, discussion forum, etc., Android's open platform allows faster transforming open source projects to fit PSU's specific environment, such as voting, question tool, or attendance taking.
For example, if we have our own question tool that can be embedded into a class blog, students can easily recall what was asked during the class, without having to go to Harvard law school (one of the most used tool hosts). Moreover, students may be able to continue the discussion in the class blog.
For attendance taking tool, the direct connection to PSU servers will save faculty time. Using any 3rd-party tool will most likely require the faculty to manually transform the data afterwards.
3. Data collection
Field trips are one of Dr. Guertin's class's features -- students observe geological phenomena on site, rather than on the textbook page. Besides photos and recordings, a custom tool on mobile devices will allow faculty to ask specific location-based questions to guide students to observe the targets better or think more critically in the field. There are no known generic tools out there for faculty right now.
Any other ideas?
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