SHERPA: A mobile application for students and educators in the classroom

Abstract

Mobile computing is becoming ubiquitous across many areas including education. Many of the education-based applications are targeted toward the student as the end-user and trying to create a more effective educational environment using mobile technology. At our institution, we are investigating such applications, but wanted to look at tools focusing on the educator as well as the student. In this regard, we have developed and are testing a mobile productivity tool, SHERPA, for use by both the student and the instructor in the classroom. It is designed to assist the instructor in a number of administrative classroom activities and facilitate instructor-to-instructor communication. Student functionality includes the ability to interact with the instructor and other students, arrange collaborative meetings, and provide feedback on lectures. SHERPA is designed with a cloud computing architecture and attempts to leverage information sharing between instructors with common students. SHERPA was initially developed and tested in Fall semester 2010 with more extensive evaluation in the Spring 2011 semester. User feedback is very positive. This paper will describe SHERPA's functionality and design, its use in the classroom, instructor experience and feedback on the tool, and future plans.