Matias et al. (2013) Sloan-C

Audeliz Matias1, Craig Lamb2, Joanne Levine1, Matthew Quinn1, and David F. Wolf II3

1 SUNY Empire State College, Saratoga Springs NY (Audeliz.Matias@esc.edu);2 SUNY Genesse Community College, Batavia, NY; 3 Content Enablers, Inc., Saratoga Springs, NY

19th Sloan-C International Conference on Online Learning

Lake Buena Vista, FL

Widespread Adoption of Mobile Technology2011 Horizon Report : “According to a recent report from mobile manufacturer Ericsson, studies show that by 2015, 80% of people accessing the internet will be doing so from mobile devices. Perhaps more important for education, internet capable mobile devices will outnumber computers within the next year.”

2013 Horizon Report : “Tablet computing has carved its own niche in education as a portable and always-connected family of devices that can be used in almost any setting. Equipped with WiFi and cellular network connectivity, high-resolution screens, and with a wealth of mobile apps available, tablets are proving to be powerful tools for learning inside and outside of the classroom.”

Widespread Adoption of Mobile Technology

• Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project: in the U.S. 45% of adults own a smartphone (Smith, 2012), up from 35% in 2011 (Smith, 2011).

• Pearson Foundation: tablet ownership among undergraduates has more than tripled in the last year (2012).

• Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project: non-white and low income level smartphone users are most likely to go online using their phone(Smith, 2011).

Campus mobile applications (“apps”) facilitate access to:

• campus news

• maps

• transportation information

• calendar of events

• self-guided tours

• searchable directories

• course registration

• recruitment efforts

Trends in Mobile Apps in Higher Education

The ChallengeWe serve nontraditional age learners in a distributed, fully online environment with students all across the globe.

Mobile app strategy needs to reflect the character and needs of our community.

Our Students• Empire State College served 20,138 students

• The average age: 36 years (undergraduate), 40 years (graduate).

• Center for Distance Learning:

– The total enrollment was 7,340 students

– 65% of students are female and 83% of students are New York State residents

– The ethnicity (2011-2012):

• 68% White,

• 12% Black, Non- Hispanic,

• 2% Asian,

• <1% American/Alaskan native,

• <1% Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

MyCDL Site/App

• Went live in late January 2012.• Viewed 29,032 times.• Installed by 2,956 users.• Linked out to other ESC pages 1,792

times.• MyRecords• Registration• Distance Learning Catalog

http://www.widgetbox.com/mobile/app/mycdl

MyCDL: Effectiveness as a Tool

• We conducted research on the tool's use, or lack thereof, by current students, faculty and staff, as well as prospective students and alumni.

• Survey – February, April 2013• 7 questions, descriptive• Students, faculty, staff within CDL as well

as prospective students and alumni.

MyCDL Site/App

http://www.widgetbox.com/mobile/app/mycdl

Visits by Platform

Accessed (mobile devices) 8,402 times.

Survey Resultsn=224 participants

• 18% younger than 30 years old

• 57% - 30 to 49• 22% - 50 and over• 3% - 60 and over

Which category below includes your age?

• 89% Currently enrolled at CDL.• 56% Use it as a primary way to access

information about CDL.

Survey Resultsn = 224

Overall Usefulness: 3.65 (28% - score of 5; 19% - score of 4).

Usefulness of each tabs: Usefulness of each the components:

1. Registration & Academics2. Contact CDL3. News & Events

1. Academic Summary2. Registration Page3. Course Catalog

Least: Twitter feed, Calendar, YouTube

MyCDL Site/AppSurvey Launched February 2013: 224 participants

Students are generally satisfied with MyCDL and would like to see more features added, particularly those that could increase engagement in their online courses.

• 47% rated the app useful and very useful.• 14% rated the app as somewhat useful to not useful.• 19% were neutral about the app usefulness.• 20% didn’t answer this question.

Average rating: 3.65

Survey Comments• Adding a links to DPPlanner and the Degree Planning Guide.• Access to course documents and discussions.• All main pages linked to need to be mobile-friendly.• Needs to work with all smarthphones.• “I know that access to courses and course mail is likely impractical on the

mobile friendly MyCDL, but it would be nice to log into an account with your student ID and have the ability to access contact information relating to the courses for which a student is enrolled. I have been able to access this information on the main ESC site with my phone, but it may be more practical for situations like w hen Hurricane Sandy and the following snow storms knocked out access to computer and internet for days on end.”

• “I didn’t know there was a MyCDL app.”

What We LearnedTechnical Considerations:•Native Apps vs. HTML5 mobile sites.•Links need to be monitored.•Technology is always changing as well as companies.

General Considerations:•Privacy, for you and your users.•ADA and other disability elements.•Does the usability and set-up outweigh any benefits?•Will the initial pilot allow you to gather useful feedback?

What’s Next?

Responsive Design

Moodlereooms Courses

Summary• Mobile technology is growing at an exponential rate.• Currently, adult students are using technologies

extensively in a combination of ways to find, manage and produce content.

• Mobile devices cannot be the ultimate solution to engage students and creates a sense of community but it certainly helps.

• Perhaps the most powerful use of mobile technology in student support and recruitment is to supplement other efforts.

Thank you!

Audi Matias, Audeliz.Matias@esc.eduAudi Matias, Audeliz.Matias@esc.edu