College students are bringing many different types of electronic
devices with them to campus. Colleges and universities are grappling with how
to accommodate all those gadgets.
The many devices on the market means educators have to
create lessons that work on all of them, whether students are toting a laptop,
smartphone, tablet, or all three. The age of the device even comes into play,
because operating systems change so frequently.
“These devices all have different quirks,” Gauri Reyes,
CEO of Triple Point Advisors, said in an article in eCampus News, “and that makes it hard to predict which ones will ultimately
be brought into the classrooms, who will be using which ones, and who needs to
know what about the devices and the capabilities.”
Device-agnostic applications are being built to provide
a solution. The tools are compatible with most operating systems, helping
instructors and students work together without wasting class time or IT
resources.
“Start by taking the most popular devices that are out
there and making sure your applications, lesson plans, videos, or other content
work on those devices,” Reyes advised. “Just make the assumption that whatever
you’re developing or using has to work on iOS, Android, or another platform,
and then create an environment where your students can learn, engage,
collaborate, and communicate effectively.”
