GCSU launches iPhone app class

One GCSU student has brought an iPhone class to campus this semester to help empower students to become technologically advanced for both personal and educational purposes.
Scott Wofford, dual mathematics and computer science major, along with the help of Dr. Gita Williams Phelps, associate professor of computer science, managed to create the iPhone Application Development class, which first launched summer 2010.
“Having this class teaches not only a language for a growing market, but it also teaches us to be diverse in both Windows and Apple programming,” Wofford said.
Wofford said the idea hit him in a computer science class while working with Applets, a program that can be embedded in a website that runs under the control of a browser. He thought about how outdated these were becoming with so many more programs on the rise.
“So then I started to think, what could we use that would be useful to our generation?” Wofford said. “That is when I knew I had to learn how to make applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch.”
During the spring semester of 2009, Wofford approached Phelps with an interest in developing iPhone applications. Phelps agreed to help Wofford independently through the application development process.
“It just snowballed from there and grew into something much more than I could ever have thought of,” Wofford said.
The idea turned from a four-week-long summer class into the first semester long class this Fall. The establishment of this class is an example of what the future might hold for more innovative classes available at GCSU and other colleges.
The Board of Regents makes decisions about the curriculum for 35 colleges and universities of the University System of Georgia. Dr. Michael Rogers, director of faculty development at the University System of Georgia Board of Regents, has 37 years of experience in the instructional design field. In fact, he spoke at the Advanced Digital Campus Leadership Institute in 2009 hosted by Digital Innovation Group, GCSU and the University System of Georgia. He envisions a more technological future for college courses.
“I believe that colleges will begin to develop more content to be delivered via mobile devices such as the iPhone or iPad,” Rogers said. “Most students have some form of smart phone and it is a natural fit for course content to be delivered in this manner.”
Soon students will be able to utilize their own iPhones and create personalized applications for anything their classmates or teachers need. Interest in the new class is already opening up learning opportunities.
“I know that we have been conversing with the physics department about creating an application for them specifically for GCSU, and I have also heard talk about the math department being interested in an application,” Wofford said.
Already, students created various applications on the iPod Touch. They are able to use this class for personal application development along with the educational aspect.
“Students became addicted to applications other students made,” Phelps said.
Jim Wolfgang, GCSU’s chief information officer and director of Digital Innovation Group, also talks about how students and faculty creating various programs with technology is benefitting education. Digital Innovation Group is currently working with an English professor at GCSU to look at electronic publishing, an interactive way to discuss a book while reading it.
“It is kind of like a book club in the old days,” Wolfgang said.
GCSU is becoming more advanced by doing away with the “old days” by creating broader opportunities in learning techniques.  GCSU created its own podcast service in 2005 by Digital Innovation Group. Soon after, Apple created iTunes U, a place for students and teachers to listen to podcasts recorded at other universities. According to Wolfgang, 800 universities use iTunes U but only 200 are good enough to be on the Apple website, including GCSU.
“We are up there with Duke and Harvard, for example,” Wolfgang said.
GCSU continues to show success with innovative technology as it expands.
“I believe the iPod will continue to evolve,” Wolfgang said. “It is a big tool in the education area.”
This idea will most likely continue to grow in the future for those who do not have iPods or iPhones. Phelps said she will see if they can incorporate Android technology.
There are 11 students enrolled in the class this semester. According to Phelps, whether the class returns is based on interest shown by students.
Learning application development skills is perfect for GCSU, the first university in the world to use iPods in classrooms, according to Wolfgang.

Posted by Matt Chambers on Oct 22 2010. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.