LSTA Mobile Edge Grant 2019

The LSTA grant proposal was designed specifically to build upon and beyond the 2013-2014 LSTA grant funded Digital Briefcase initiative, which centered on increasing “student engagement through research and reflection,” by turning “iPad minis into mobile libraries and field journals for students engaged in off-campus research.” Over the last five years, mobile learning has evolved from an emphasis on students’ access to and use of digital information resources for research and writing to a growing emphasis on their access to and use of a suite of technology tools to chronicle, create, and present digital projects.  Hege Library and Learning Technologies recognized a unique and timely opportunity to contribute to advancement of the Guilford Edge in its commitment to “ensuring uncommon engagement in real-world discoveries for every student,” by re-aligning and expanding its mobile digital media collections and services to serve a broader array of anticipated needs.  

The LSTA grant award will accelerate efforts to expand and broaden the capabilities of Hege’s mobile digital media collections and services to serve an increasing number of users requiring access for off-campus activities relating to course requirements.  It will address demand associated with anticipated increases in students participating in hands-on, collaborative projects, community-engaged learning, and studying away and abroad; and will address the fundamental expectation that all students will partake of these out-of-classroom experiences throughout their academic careers.  

While The Mobile Edge not only will continue, but also expand support for virtual writing and research activities, it also will provide specific dedicated tools for creating higher quality recorded sound and video recordings.  A new suite of tablet technology will enable whole cohorts of students the ability to utilize a common and accessible platform, personalized for long-term use, with functionality that may fulfill multiple needs.  To meet demand for technology to support enhanced presentations, podcasting, interviews, oral histories, and the like; existing capacity for enabling mobile presentation capture using Swivl robotic technology will be doubled, and new interview recording equipment will be purchased.  Educational subscriptions to Descript and Hindenburg, two audio software applications, specifically requested for supporting the QEP, will facilitate mobile audio editing and podcast creation.