Mobile Computing

Rutgers Outfitting Executive Program Students with Apple iPad

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 04/29/10

Students in an executive certificate program at Rutgers in Piscataway, NJ this summer will be spiffed with an Apple iPad tablet that includes pre-loaded program materials. The program, titled the Digital Marketing Mini-MBA, is being delivered by the Center for Management Development. It lasts 12 weeks and costs $4,995. Modules focus on digital marketing and cover topics such as social media marketing, digital brand management, and privacy and security issues. The 36 hours of class will be taught by Rutgers faculty and marketing professionals.

Rutgers is working with Apple to customize the iPad for use in the course and with programmers to develop applications specific for each of the 12 three-hour modules.

"We are hoping that both faculty and students will discover new ways to use the iPad during the program," said Eric Greenberg, a faculty member who is program director of the digital marketing mini-MBA. "Initially, students will use the iPads to design, track, and monitor digital marketing campaigns throughout the course. They will also interact with each other and the professors on social media sites such as Facebook, Linked In, YouTube, and Twitter.

The iPads will come pre-configured with instructional material, including cases, articles, chapters, and videos. "We are meeting with a team from Apple later this month to brainstorm unique ways to take advantage of the iPad technology," Greenberg said.

Rutgers is providing students the base version of the iPad, which sells for $499 and includes 16 GB of storage. Apple has reserved iPads for Rutgers and is providing free training for all Rutgers faculty teaching in the program.