Presenters:
- Melissa Harts, Dean of Institutional Technology, Pasco-Hernando State College
- Mark Tennyson is PHSC project lead
Resources:
- PHSC Mobile: http://phsc.edu/mobile
- Toolkit: http://phsc.edu/mobile-app
PHSC is new to mobile, we launched last August, started collecting data in October. We have five campuses with about 16,000 students. We are a community college system in Florida, and we recently started offering Baccalaureate degrees. Mobile has helped transform our processes. Our online program is growing at a double-digit rate, with students in every state in the United States.
Transformation
- How do we use the mobile app to create a sense of community in this changing environment?
- CHANGES: community > State college; adding bachelor’s degrees; new campus; changing deans of institutional tech (me!); new systems app dev; upcoming retirement of president; increase of online courses
Why Mobile? Why modo?
- Two-pronged decision: going mobile was partly “pre-decided” by a management committee.
- Our matrix selection criteria: met needs of focus group, admin panel, analytics to measure success, interoperable with current systems, admin portal with different permission roles, end-user support, mobile web included, and of course price.
- There was always a certain amount of doubt in my mind about whether they would be able to support our needs.
- 80% of colleges and university respondents use or are planning to use mobile apps for teaching.
Vision: Initial Goals
- One dimensional goal: build a mobile app!
Vision: Current
- Functional on all devices
- Wanted to reflect our transformation from 2 to 4 year college and growth, community (HS to alumni), excellence, campus safety, and more.
Challenges
- Infrastructure
- Resources: all hands on deck!
- Timing: this growth phase of our campuses was the best time for us do this.
- Awareness: students couldn’t find an app for our campus (because it didn’t exist!)
- Perception:
Mobile app project
- Project schedule: rapid development of 16-17 weeks
- Implementation Strategy (pilot release, refinements)
- Official launch was August 2014. We embedded the launch into existing communication channels, NOT a standalone app.
- Took feedback from a variety of channels, including a module and surveys.
Feedback: What’s the Point?
- One student’s feedback asked this question
- App has to engage the student
Data Drill Down: Measuring Success
- Users: Accessed by 20% of core user community
- Top Modules: mail, cal, eLearning, Directory, Courses, News
- Keyword searches: WISE (SIS), myPHSC (Canvas/LMS); people, events, academic dates, courses; financial related queries; graduation, grades
- Average Time Users Stay: full college web site: 4:00 minutes; mobile site: 2:05 minutes
Where do we go from here?
- Integration of SIS
- Think of new ways to engage our students
- Think of new ways to engage our staff, faculty, alumni, applicants, 1st time students
- Create a community of Learners
- Show this is a valuable tool to strengthen the community
Looking Forward: Concerns
- Keep users interested
- Keep pace with needs
- Awareness of college needs
- Leadership: support and keep the mobile app viable
- New IT staffing needs
Conclusion
- How do we use the mobile app to create a sense of community in this changing environment?
- Embrace transformation
- Learn from your community
- Immerse yourself into their business
- Transform your mindset and think about their role and needs
- Be willing to accept criticism and grow from it
- Develop a strategy that is inclusive of a NEEDS assessment, not a WANTS assessment
