Hacking the Core: Developing & Using an App Book

Presenter Information

Noel DolanFollow
Paul Camacho, Villanova UniversityFollow
Ian Clausen, Villanova UniversityFollow

Submission Type

75-minute Hands-on Workshop

Abstract

This interactive session will showcase strategies to enhance student learning through the use of a mobile app book version of a core text required of all students at our university, St. Augustine's Confessions. The pedagogical value of such a multidisciplinary, multi-authored text is enhanced by the further development of our companion resource website, and the session will address both the value of creating either or both in consideration of the needs of other humanities programs.

Start Date

5-23-2019 3:00 PM

End Date

5-23-2019 4:15 PM

Description

This interactive session will promote strategies to enhance student learning through the use of technology in the classroom by showcasing a mobile app book version of a core text required of all students at our university, St. Augustine's Confessions. The pedagogical value of such a multidisciplinary, multi-authored text is enhanced by the further development of our companion resource website, and the session will address both the value of creating either or both in consideration of the needs of other programs.

Since all first-year students at our university read Confessions in the first-year seminar, and since virtually every student owns an electronic device, the app helps us achieve core learning objectives by engaging students on a platform with which they are already familiar. The app itself contains, in addition to the story of Confessions, multiple commentaries custom written for this project, audio renditions of each book, a timeline, map, and art gallery, all of which exist to enhance students’ reading experiences.

Fundamentally, the app touches on an educational debate around the use of electronic devices in a liberal arts setting. Some faculty embrace them, some disdain them, but most want to learn how to put them to good use. The development of the resources website was intended to equip faculty with successful pedagogical strategies that capitalize on features that the app makes available.

Beyond the specific demonstration of a text and material central to our own program, our session will discuss the usefulness of departmental consolidation of essential resources that serve to enhance engagement with core content, including teaching templates and downloadable files. Such a platform enables faculty to promote a unified vision of texts central to their mission.