A Few Thoughts on University Mobile Applications

Several schools across the University of Wisconsin System (Madison, Milwaukee, Oshkosh, Eau Claire, La Crosse) recently launched a university-focused mobile application (app) to be used by their students, faculty and staff, and others – specifically for both the iPhone and Android. However, before an administration begins the planning process of an app, what should be the focus of the app in terms of app features?

Below, as a reference, are the informational pages for each university app mentioned, above:

Madison: http://mobile.wisc.edu/

Milwaukee: http://www4.uwm.edu/mobile/

Oshkosh: http://www.uwosh.edu/imc/web-new-media/mobile

Eau Claire: http://www.uwec.edu/mobile.htm

La Crosse: http://uwlax.edu/mobile/

Some university apps—including and those beyond the apps from UW System—have very practical features such as transportation information; computer and laundry machine availability; schedule of university-related activities; campus maps; and learning management system access. Other features—no need to name them, here—appear to be less practical. (I’ll let you be the judge in your own search of university apps!)

Additionally, should certain functions of educational apps (e.g., flashcards, translation tools, writing style guides) be included in the university-focused apps? Might the addition of such functions better-benefit the users of the university-focused app? Should these functions replace the seemingly unimportant “other” features of the current app make-up? I suspect back-end data would tell whomever whether the “less practical” features are being used or not. This data would ultimately signal that the feature would need to be replaced.

In addition to their university app page, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has an additional page for recommended, “educational,” stand-alone apps. It's found at:  https://www4.uwm.edu/pass/downloadable-applications.cfm

Does your campus have an app? What features to you like? What features do you dislike? What functions would you add to the app if you could?

No need to name the institution… just your “likes, dislikes,” and "additions."

Online, Instructor-Created, Language Activities

I’d like to bring your attention to a relatively new, online, language activity tool called the Syntax Untangler. The Syntax Untangler was developed by Alan Ng, Continuing Studies, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The purpose of the tool is to help language learners improve their small-scale reading skills. Any language can be used with the Syntax Untangler. Additionally, it’s an open source tool, meaning anyone with programming know-how can participate in the design and building of the tool’s next versions.

More information, including examples of current features, online training, login information, Frequently Asked Questions and Known Issues information, and a slideshow presentation, can be found at: http://courses.dcs.wisc.edu/untangler/

References

Ng, A. (2011, November 3). Syntax untangler. Retrieved from
http://courses.dcs.wisc.edu/untangler/