Behind the Scenes Tips + Taps: Integrating iOS Apps into the Research Process

April Kelley
Mary Oberlies

Inspiration

iPad = Best toy ever!

I love my new iPhone, what can I do on this thing?

Kitten: http://wycd.cbslocal.com/2012/01/20/funny-video-animals-love-playing-with-iphones-too/ Monkey: http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/82457885/

Step by Step
Identified
Looked up some apps of interest Research what other libraries are doing with mobile technology

Played
Figured out what apps did, how theyd be helpful, easy of use, cost, shareable

First Round Decisions

Identified winning apps from first selection

Surveyed
Would people even take this workshop?

Playing Judge and Jury

24 apps selected for trial based on first sweep. 8 were cut for not meeting our criteria:
Ease of Use Shareability

Cost
Functionality Included Features Synchronization Reviews Practicality
Image from: http://d24w6bsrhbeh9d.cloudfront.net/photo/6213907_700b_v1.jpg

Survey
12 question survey
To determine the technology used for research purposes and how Mason students and faculty interact with libraries via social media. Gauge student interest in an apps-focused workshop.

Primary focus on Arlington students and faculty Survey ran from January 14 February 28
53 respondents

Image from: http://vegworcester.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/survey_dude.jpg

Getting the News Out

Survey sent out on listservs, library blog, Twitter and Facebook, S-CAR research portal, NING, and This Week at Arlington Newsletter Signs and bookmarks around the ACL, Hazel Hall, Founders Hall and the Truland Building

Image from: http://www.lyntonweb.com/Portals/74005/images/newsboy_megaphone.jpg

Survey says.

Image from: http://vivavisibilityblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/RichardDawson.jpg

Demographics
Mason Affiliation
32 45

Campus Location

9 4 4 4 0 Arlington Fairfax 6 2 0

Prince Distance William Edu

Social Hangouts
Summary:
Facebook: 48 Twitter: 29 Blogs: 23 Tumblr: 6 LinkedIN: 4 NING: 3 Pinterest: 2 FourSquare: 1 Instagram: 1 Youtube: 1 Sharepoint: 1 Twitter Blogs Facebook

Social Media Site Preferences

Other NING LinkedIn Tumblr

Devices Used for Research

1
Phone

12 31

Desktop

11
Laptop

15

19
Tablets

32

2 23 0 5 Other 10 15 Blackberry Droid 20 25 Windows Apple 30 Kindle Kindle Fire 0 1 2 3 4 5 Nook HD 35

eReaders

I get library information from

None IM Ref Fen Facebook Twitter Google Research Portals ACL Blog Phone 1

1
1 3 5 6 6 7 7

Word of Mouth
Signs/Posters Professors Librarians Email Libraries Website

8
10 13 33 43

Demands of the People

A monthly ACL html email newsletter would be wonderful to keep us up to date I have no interest in the Arlington campus Im not sure

I dont differentiate libraries by location at GMU, therefore Id like to get all info from library website

Make an app that sends out library news, book due dates, and account information Send more emails

GMU library mobile application or build a section into the mobile Mason Bb app

I dont know

Redesign library website, its outdated and complicated to use

All about workshops

Knowledge of Workshops Know where to find workshop schedule

No 47%

Yes 53%

No 49%

Yes 51%

More on Workshops
Have attended a workshop Would attend an App Workshop
N/A 8% No 24%

Yes 36%

No 64%

Yes 68%

Areas of App Interest

Zotero 1

None

Research

43

Sharing/Storage

26

Productivity

34

And then
Explored
Other options? Udemy course

Second Round Decisions

Selected apps from Udemy course, located related apps from reviews and added to first round draft.

Selecting the Winners

Pared down list of apps to most useful
Research, Read, Write categories

Apps4Librarians
54-lecture online course by Nicole Hennig.
Sections:
E-Reading Productivity Research and Reference Multimedia Keeping Up

Lectures we found useful

Kindle Mobile apps Library books on mobile devices Pulse, Flipboard, BBC News, NPR, Life Language learning, translations, flash cards

GoodReader app
Reading on E-Book devices: the user experience Dropbox Evernote Instapaper QuickOffice, Google Docs, and Keynote iPad Accessories keyboard Jotnot Dragon Dictation and Dragon Go Google Search, Duck Duck Go, Google Maps Dictionary, Articles, Wolfram Alpha Feedly

Barcode Scanning apps

Jailbreaking Bamboo Paper Sound Hound

Comic Book
Art, Art Envi Deluxe, Louvre Thumbjam BeBot

Kaleidoscope X
iTunes U Apples Podcast app Keeping up with apps and app reviews

What we learned.

There are a lot of apps out there!

Image from: http://www.teachthought.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Apps-2.jpg

What we really learned

Many apps do the same thing, so reviews are vital. Even fun apps can be useful for education .
Thumbjam might help with a music project Kaleidoscope X could be useful for a graphic design student

Cost shouldnt determine selection.

Instapaper vs. Pocket Supernote Free vs. Supernote

Best in Show

Recap: What Makes a Good App

Ease of Use
Shareability

Reviews
Practicality

Cost
Functionality

Included Features
Synchronization

Final Cut
Research
Dictionary.com SSRN Worldcat Mobile Flipboard

Read
Pocket BlueFire GoodReader Evernote

Write
Mindmeister CloudOn

Honorable Mentions
RedLazer
m.gmu.edu Congressional Record Blackboard
Image from: http://ih0.redbubble.net/image.9620672.9761/sticker,375x360.png

Learning Outcomes
Be able to download and install apps to mobile device using iTunes Store Be able to identify iOS apps that are useful for collaboration, brainstorming, and research. Be able to locate resources that recommend and review iOS apps that assist research and productivity

Learning: A Two Way Street

Congressional Record more popular than we thought High interest in eBooks Other places to get app reviews
MacLife, iLounge, Engadget, Appadvice

Hindsight
Survey
Launch sooner? Later in semester?
More specific questions in regard to apps of interest, rather than broad categories Should have asked more demographic questions Needed to clarify some questions

Thoughts for the Future

Its better to have the workshop focused on one topic, rather than have broader coverage. More workshops!

Professional Development Apps eBooks Workshop

Social Media Campaign

Increase awareness of library presence

Udemy courses to learn more about apps and iOS stuff Host informal instruction sessions. Appy Hour