An old friend of mine tweeted that in the recent presidential elections, the biggest winner was Big Data. The implication is that the race for president – and probably many other lesser races, as well – went to the candidate that used technology most effectively. As ever, money was a huge issue, but perhaps for the first time on a national scale in the United States, tech trumped it.

In my opinion, Big Data wasn’t the only winning technology. Mobility was also very evident in the race. Both presidential candidates released mobile apps for supporters to track them in the polls, and each attempted to harness mobility to allow users to lend a hand to their respective campaigns. It was probably not a coincidence that, according to Pew Research results, traditionally disenfranchised youth and minorities – the voting blocks that came out most strongly in support of the incumbent — are more likely to have a smartphone, and to know how to use it.

It’s one thing to make big investments in mobile technology and other IT infrastructure in an effort to enhance the academic learning experience. It’s another thing altogether to ensure that technology is actively and effectively applied. When mobile IT and infrastructure investments are not paired with solid professional development for faculty and other staff, it’s unclear whether upgrading an institution’s technology to embrace mobility will ever pay off.

That’s the lesson that many colleges are now taking to heart as they seek ways to ensure they are maximizing their returns on mobile investments. They realize they must make professional development a priority if they are to engage faculty and produce successful outcomes.

The following ideas can potentially help your university make the most of its mobile technology commitment and investments:

How actively are college students using mobile technology and what impact is it having on their learning experience?

Ongoing research suggests mobile technology is being deployed at a rapid rate to meet growing student demand. In the latest survey from the Campus Computing Project, more than half (55 percent) of public universities have activated mobile apps or stated their plan to do so in the coming year. That was up from just one-third (33 percent) the prior year.

10 Ways That Mobile Learning Will Revolutionize Education

Smartphones and tablet computers are radically transforming how we access our shared knowledge sources by keeping us constantly connected to near-infinite volumes of raw data and information. We enjoy unprecedented instant access to expertise, from informal cooking lessons on YouTube to online university courses. Every day people around the globe are absorbed in exciting new forms of learning, and yet traditional schools and university systems are still struggling to leverage the many opportunities for innovation in this area.
Originally Posted by Fabio Sergio, Co.Design

What’s The Next Chapter For College Textbooks?

E-reading is on the rise. In 2011, digital books outsold paper books on Amazon.com for the first time, and a survey conducted in February by the Pew Internet and American Life Project found 21 percent of Americans had read an e-book, up from 17 percent in December.

Pew also found 19 percent of adults ages 18 and older owned an e-book reader (such as a Kindle or a Nook) and 19 percent owned a tablet computer. Plus, not everyone reads e-books on e-readers and tablets–many people also access e-books on laptops, smartphones and other mobile devices.
Originally Posted by Amy Southerland, The Atlantic

The Growing Industry of Higher Education Big Data

An Austin-based startup, Civitas Learning, has launched with $4.1 million in funding from Austin Ventures, First Round Capital and Floodgate to develop a digital platform for educational decision-making — through the concept of Big Data.

As colleges and universities stretch their resources to try and accommodate the diverse and ever-increasing pool of students, it can be difficult for them to maximize the potential of the information they possess to work out what’s working and what’s not.
Originally Posted by Charlie Osborne, ZDNet

If you’re responsible for educational technology at a college or university, you’re already very aware that mobile technology is popular among your students. You’re also likely already interested in capitalizing on these devices to augment their education and advance your institution’s strategic objectives—from attracting talent to propelling the school’s growth.