enable ireland - integrating apps in third level practice

Trevor Boland

Assistive Technology Officer

Trevor.boland@dit.ie

Integrating Apps as key technologies in third level

Assistive Technology Practice

‘The presence of mobile devices has exploded on college campuses over the past five years, though just 19 percent of students say they use tablets and ubiquitous smartphones for educational purposes.’

Carter, 2013

‘The social context in which learning takes place has also changed and in ways that were not foreseen in the early part of the 21st century.

Learners are increasingly dependent on technology to help them fit learning into their complex, demanding lives.

Ownership of personal technologies – from computers to mobile devices – is now pervasive, and use of the internet, including Web 2.0 technologies, is commonplace.’

(JISC, 2009)

Contents of Presentation

- Some background information

- My target audience

- The functions of the App

- How the app was created

- Further changes to the app

• DIT Disability Service

• Assistive Technology Officer

• Design and Art

• Sp. Education- Primary and Secondary

The DIT disability service alone there are approximately 800 students, of which the majority have Specific Learning Difficulties (SPLDs).

Reasons for creating an AT service app:

- High Smart phone ownership

- Simplifies student access to AT information

- Widening options regarding app creation

- Links work related sites to App

- One stop shop for AT related links and information

- Opportunity to develop new skills

Create Cost Positives Challenges

Create Cost Positives Challenges

Informing students about the app

App studio pic- pros and cons

Future Plans

- Widen student Users

- Universal Design

- User Testing

- Prepare fully for new cohort

whowhatwhereat.tumblr.com

Q&A