Staying on top of coursework, taking a virtual tour of the UP campus, finding out about events are all possible from a Smart phone thanks to the UP Mobile app. Ann Harris, Associate Director of Program Management, led the effort to bring this functionality to the palm of Pilot hands. The app integrates some of the functionality offered by other UP mobile apps such as the library, orientation, athletics putting a lot of options in one place. And more is on the way. In this podcast, Ann talks about what the app can currently do and what else is on the horizon.
Listen:
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A complete transcript of the podcast is available in Word format
From Our Conversation:
Maria Erb: Ann it’s really nice to have you here and thank you so much for sharing some tea with us this afternoon. Ann we wanted to talk with you today about the new UP mobile app. Can you tell us about some of the big features that the app contains?
Ann Harris: The biggest feature that seems to be getting utilization is our course module. You are able to use the app to look up the courses that you’re currently enrolled and expand that to include all the contact information for those classmates as well as your professor. Further expanding it to see all of your module coursework, assignments, and discussions. You can click on it and it’ll automatically add it to you calendar, all the things that you would need to stay on top of your courses and coursework.
Sam Williams: What are some other key features, at least key features in your mind for the mobile app.
Ann Harris: I think one of the other features that this valuable is particularly if you happen to be maybe new to the institution is we have the animated map and so you can enter where you are and where you need to be and it’ll tell you the most efficient way to navigate whether you’re walking, driving, or riding your bike across campus. Other features, events. I didn’t know many of the events going on campus until we added this button in the mobile app, so it lists everything that happens to be going on today, tomorrow, next week so you can keep in contact. Whether it be intramural sports, whether it be academic related or whether it’s just …
Sam Williams: You know, I’m really happy that we have this mobile app. It’s been a great addition to the university. Where did the request come from? Where did this need come from to have a mobile app?
Ann Harris: When I first joined University of Portland, we were asked to look at, strategically, some of the things that we might provide in terms of technology and services. We identified at that point in time that we really didn’t have a mobile, certainly not a coordinated mobile presence at University of Portland. That was one of the first things we wanted to do was brand something that was the UP app. Then identify a solution that could incorporate all of the mobile apps that we do have, that are specialty items, library, athletics, orientation, things like that. That was kind of the catalyst that got us started.
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