MobilEdu - the next big thing a Blackboard

In his keynote presentation, Michael Chasen introduced two new young guys, whose company Blackboard has recently acquired. These mere children have developed super-cool iPhone widgets for institutions (though they will apparently work with any web-enabled mobile device). This MobilEdu seems to be the next (very?) big thing to come out of Bb. It IS cool, but it's merely about accessing stuff on the fly, not developing any improved learning or teaching methods. But that's ok - that's what learning technologists are for, right?

Here are a few notes - I expect LOTS more will be coming out of Bb's Marketing monkeys ASAP.


MobilEdu provides a collection of widgets for the iPhone for services that exist on different websites at a university:
• Maps, staff/student directories (e.g. accessing LDAP), event calenders, courses (the Bb bit), bills, athletics info (very US-oriented)
• MobilEdu is a product which brings these services together on to one place on a mobile device
• DEMO – works on any web-enabled mobile device
o Maps with GPS built in, so you can see where you are on a campus, as well as routes to other building you need to reach.
o Directory search
o Course catalogue
o Athletics - scores and schedules of teams
o Videos – YouTube and iTunes U
o News – aggregating all news feeds on campus
• The Bb integration: My Courses app – all items for course available on the device; course dashboard
• Bb Learn App (BbSync) for iPhone may not necessarily continue to be supported with MobilEdu – Bb hasn't decided yet.