This fall, Abilene Christian University is starting a campus-wide exploration of the benefits of converged, mobile devices like the Apple iPhone in higher education. In a pilot study, faculty and educational technology developers will research ways devices like the iPhone can deepen learning in the 21st-century academy. In addition, ACU’s planning to explore how these converged, mobile devices can help foster community on campus and facilitate administrative tasks like billing and registration.

According to Kevin Roberts, ACU CIO, ACU faculty and technology staff have been studying strategic opportunities presented by handheld devices in higher education for a few years now. Changing technology has finally enabled companies like Apple to release PDAs and smart phones that bring together the whole digital package, allowing users to send text messages, check email, take pictures, listen to music and download information. “The creation of Apple’s iPhone – which offers many popular services in one device – has made what we see as the first really compelling solution,” said Roberts.

Through its Adams Center for Teaching and Learning, ACU is creating an elite case-study group to analyze ways to use the iPhone as a learning tool—both in and out of the classroom. “We’re really excited about the possibilities that the iPhone offers for reconceiving teaching and learning in the 21st century,” said Dr. William Rankin, associate professor of English at ACU and leader of the faculty research group. “We have a vision for ways that a true convergence device like the Apple iPhone can influence more student-centered models of learning and help teachers to configure classes in more creative ways. We hope to learn more as our pilot group begins using the iPhone every day in the academic setting.”

For more information about ACU’s efforts, you can contact ACU’s Public Relations Office.

Update: video from a local news station can be found here.