Mobile apps for classrooms receive Mira Award for education
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Social media technologies for classrooms developed by Purdue University have won the 2011 TechPoint Mira Award for Educational Contribution to Technology by a department, program or team.
Now in its 12th year, the TechPoint Mira Awards highlight Indiana's technology companies, institutions and individuals that are leading the state's high-tech economy.
Information Technology at Purdue received the award for developing classroom apps HotSeat, Mixable and DoubleTake.
The Mira Awards judges wrote that these educational technologies are especially needed in the modern classroom.
"The Purdue Informatics team is addressing two of the most serious issues in higher education, student engagement and retention, by developing technologies to extend the classroom to where the students are living their digital lives," the Mira Awards judging panel wrote. "The judges believe this effort captures a completely new generational way of learning that uses new media in a positive way to improve education.
"By harnessing text messages, Twitter, Facebook and smartphone video cameras, and using these technologies to enhance the traditional classroom, students at Purdue are more active in discussions and more successful in the classroom."
Kyle Bowen, director of Informatics for Information Technology at Purdue, the team that won the award, says the honor recognizes more than just the effort put in by the Informatics team.
"Modern technology, including mobile technology and social media, is changing how business is done in almost every area, but before now classrooms have not benefited from these changes," Bowen said. "Through partnering with creative faculty members, Purdue is developing a portfoloio of technologies for classrooms that engage students and contribute to their success.
"We see this award as validation for the concept of technology's role in the classroom as well as recognition of the innovative work of the team."
The Mira Award for Educational Contribution to Technology is given to a department, program or team associated with an Indiana higher education institution that demonstrates excellence in the delivery or use of technology to further learning and educational achievement.
The Mira Awards described the entry and its importance to education: "The Informatics team at Purdue University leads the nation in developing innovative software that engages today's students in their classes and provide support for when students struggle with their assignments.
"By developing tools such as HotSeat, Mixable and DoubleTake, Purdue students can participate in classroom discussions using text messages and Twitter, share resources and talk about their classes in a walled-off area within Facebook, and use the video cameras on their smartphones to submit assignments. These tools have made Purdue a national leader in educational technologies, but, more important, have played an important role in increasing student success at Purdue."
The Mira Awards, which are given annually by TechPoint, identify the most innovative and successful firms in information technology, as well as technology-focused companies in industries such as advanced manufacturing, education, and health and life sciences.
TechPoint is Indiana's statewide technology initiative focused on growing the state's tech sector by promoting the successes of technology companies and professionals; supporting the formation, expansion and attraction of technology companies; and advocating appropriate public policy.
Writer: Steve Tally, 765-494-9809, tally@purdue.edu
Source: Kyle Bowen, 765-496-7486, kbowen@purdue.edu
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