UA Faculty, Staff Developing Mobile Apps
Faculty and staff showcased their mobile apps during this month's 16th annual Technology and Instruction Showcase.

By La Monica Everett-Haynes, University Communications
May 18, 2011


Driven by a belief that mobile devices should play a role in education, and not just entertainment and communication, University of Arizona faculty have begun developing their own apps and sites to aid instruction and improve learning.

Helping faculty and staff in their efforts to expand the use of technology for educational purposes is the UA Office of Instruction and Assessment.

The office hosted a showcase this month featuring some of the most recent apps and sites for mobile devices to be developed by UA faculty and staff. They include an app that translates technical information for pharmacists and another that provides information on how to incorporate the iPad in the classroom. 

"We're trying to take what's new and make it relevant for teaching," said Garry Forger, the office's marketing, promotion and grants management officer. 

Instructional technology has seen a surge of interest at UA, especially since the arrival of the iPad, which some students receive as part of their scholarship packages.

Gary Mackender, the UA's Virtual Reality Annex supervisor, is in the process of designing a mobile site that would enable users to watch virtual reality content, including features on the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research and Kartchner Caverns.

Mackender said he began experimenting in the world of mobile app and site development out of curiosity and also with a feeling that mobile users should have access to the annex collection, just as Web browsers do.

"I feel this is good information for me to know and believe that it falls into my job description," said Mackender, who hopes to launch the full site later in the year. 

Jon Tryggvi Njardarson, a UA associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, has developed an app, "Chemistry by Design," which displays the chemical compound sequence of pharmaceutical drugs, working to provide users a better understanding of each drug's architecture. 

"In organic chemistry, our work is based in what I call graphical language," said Njardarson, who designed the application for advanced undergraduates, graduate students and professionals. 

The app operates like a virtual flash card, he said, allowing users to work their way through their understanding of each drug sequence.

"There is a massive amount of educational information. No one has to guide you through it," Njardarson said. "It's all about freedom. I'm not telling you how to learn."

Users also can quiz themselves on how well they understand each sequence, which refers to academic papers written about the respective drug. He hopes one day that scientists will contribute their own work to the app.

Njardarson, who said he is both passionate about his work and also developing the app, also said "I wouldn't be able to do this without my department." 

Even if a faculty member or staff member is intimidated, not accustomed to using instructional technology or merely doesn't know where to start, other campus help is available.

Melody Buckner said Learning and Teaching with Technology (LATTe) group members are in the process of developing a series of workshops on the iPad. The group, of which she is a member, will facilitate the workshops during the fall and is geared toward helping faculty figure out how to better integrate technology in their classrooms. Those interested in learning more can contact the UA Office of Instruction and Assessment at 621-7788. 

Speaking about the influential nature of devices like the iPad, technology is "changing the way we move, the way we learn, the way we interact with business and with each other," said Buckner, an instructional designer in the Outreach College.

"It's all about student learning," she added. "We want to help faculty figure out ways to get plugged in so they can use these devices for teaching." 

Extra info

Interested in using or developing instructional apps or infusing your classroom with technological aids? Consider visiting these sites:

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Garry Forger

UA Office of Instruction and Assessment

520-626-3918

gforger@email.arizona.edu