Is there an APP for for that?

Last week I was talking to a friend and I caught myself asking, "Is there an app for that?"
When I started working on this blog, I noticed that there is a web version and a mobile version that viewers can access. In 2010, I responded to the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti. While I was there it seemed like everyone had a cell phone. I was able to continue international friendships via Facebook and other social media.

As I was researching for this blog, I went to the APP store to see how the reviews for the iPhone Blackboard APP were looking. I recall the initial reviews to be rather low and I recall being less-than-impressed with the previous version of it. Anyway, I digress. I found an APP that provides an overview of the entire Blackboard learning system. It contains several videos and modules that show the user how to present courses using the Blackboard Program. Here is a link to a video overview of the system: blackboard learning overview. If you are curious like me, this is what the APP icon looks like in the APP store:

The APP above is not designed for use on  a phone, but I like the concept. I downloaded on my phone for further exploration, then I went looking for my original target. The Blackboard mobile learning APP.  I have been using this APP for over a year. It used to crash a lot, but I haven't had issues since the latest upgrade. I like that I can get push notifications about grades, assignments and course announcements. I also like being able to look up assignment requirements. I don't use it for much else. For the latest version of the APP (4.1.1) there were 271 reviews with an average rating of 2 out of 5 stars. There were some reviews with 4 and 5 stars, but most reviewers gave the APP only 1 star.  The top three complaints seemed to be: having to pay for the APP, frequent crashes and that it is easier and faster to access course content by going online. 

I lug my laptop almost everywhere I go. Last year, I coughed up the money to buy a MacAir. My choice for the MacAir over the MacPro came down to weight. The MacAir only ways about two pounds and it was easier to carry. In the last year, I have watched more and more of my friends use the iPad mini and other tablets as their main computing device. It seems to be the next wave of technology that may make laptops as popular as CDs in an MP3 world. Before I am willing to make this jump, I need reassurance that I access my classes and do my schoolwork on an iPad. 

The growing popularity of the of smartphones and tablets has been boosted by the availability of increased computing power, network accessibility and could computing (Cook & Das, 2012). However,  the development of university-based distance learning software has been focused on desktop technology and operating systems (Arai & Tolle, 2011).  It is time for more energy and brain power to be focused on the development of learning APPs for smartphones, iPads and tablets. 

I foresee the next great leap forward in distance education as the development and refinement of phone and tablet APPs to along the on-the-go student even more access to their classes. I wish I was tech-savvy and had the ability to develop this kind of technology, but I will have to depend on the next generation of computer nerds. Educators must be included in the development of these APPs to create solid student-friendly learning platforms. 

Do you use learning APPs on your phone, computer or tablet? If so, what  do you like or dislike about them? If you could have features you wanted, what would be your must-haves? 

Arai, K., & Tolle, H. (2011). Module based content adaptation of composite e-learning content for   delivering   to mobile learners. International Journal of Computer Theory and Engineering, 3(3), 382-387.

Cook, D. J., & Das, S. K. (2012). Pervasive computing at scale: Transforming the state of the art.   Pervasive and Mobile   Computing, 8(1), 22-35.