Out with the old technology and in with the new…

As many of you know, StudentVoice got its start with PDA mobile data collection at SUNY Buffalo, so the big switch to the Apple iPod Touch marks the end of an assessment era. It is certainly bittersweet to see boxes of worn-out PDAs arriving at the SV doorstep as part of our Apple iPod Touch exchange program. If those PDAs could talk, oh what tales they would tell! They’ve been all over your campuses in hundreds of hands – they’ve been there for your important events, your career fairs, your orientations, and your workshops. They’ve attended your Welcome Weeks, your Alternative Spring Breaks, your After Dark programs, and your staff trainings. In total, StudentVoice PDAs have been used for thousands of assessment projects on just about every topic you could imagine. They’ve actually told us a lot about the student experience even though they can’t talk (or play music!). PDAs have sure served their purpose, but let’s face it – using the PDAs for data collection has had some serious limitations from the hot sync process, to the limited functionality, to the scary prospect that all your data could be lost if the battery went dead. (Kelly won’t miss getting those calls!) With a Wi-Fi connection, data will be automatically uploaded to StudentVoice from the Apple device – no need to hook up to your computers like with the PDAs.

We know that "in with the new” in higher education is sometimes a slow process. So, feel free to keep using your PDAs for the next year or so. But, the new application can hopefully mark the start of a new era of mobile data collection on your campus just as it is marking a new era for StudentVoice. You won’t regret making the switch and packing up those old, clunky PDAs. If you have an iTunes store account, go in and search for SV Mobile and download it today. It’s free to download the app. Even if you don’t currently have an iPod Touch or if your campus has not yet participated in the StudentVoice PDA exchange program, sign-up for an SV Mobile Monday session and see if there are ways that mobile data collection can enhance your assessment work.

Sign-up here for an SV Mobile Monday webinar: http://community.studentvoice.com/training/ All are welcome!

We’ll be sure to share all the innovative ways that your campuses are using SV Mobile in future communications and when we come to visit your campuses. And please let us know what you think of the new application!