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Tennessee College To Offer All Biology Course Materials Via Mobile Devices

• By Michael Hart
• 09/02/14

Starting this semester, all class materials — resources, content and assessments — for biology students at Walters State Community College in Tennessee will be available in digital form, accessible by mobile device.

The new arrangement is the result of a partnership between the community college, which has about 10,000 students and four campuses throughout the state, and McGraw-Hill Education.

This is the most recent development in Walters State's three-year-long mEngage mobile learning initiative that has allowed the college to be named an Apple Distinguished program twice.

Walters State has been named an Apple Distinguished program twice because of its ongoing mEngage mobile learning initiative.

McGraw-Hill will provide the teaching platform, Connect, and each student in a biology class will have a SmartBook, LearnSmart Labs and Anatomy & Physiology Revealed. All of the digital materials will be integrated with Walters State's learning management system, Desire2Learn, and can be loaded onto students' mobile devices. There will also be offline options for students with limited wireless access.

All assignments will be aligned with previously established student learning objectives and instructors will be able to use Connect Insight to analyze student progress and organize assessments.

Among other things, offering digital access to course materials should lower costs for students, for whom printed scientific course materials can be quite expensive.

"We strive to provide our students with innovative technology that enriches their learning experience," said Lori Campbell, vice president for academic affairs. "By purchasing all of their course materials in a digital format, our biology students will not only have access to a more engaging learning platform, but will also realize significant cost savings."