The Mobile Learning Initiative is AU's incorporation of iPads and mobile applications to enhance teaching and learning at the university. Through the initiative, all AU students receive an iPad that is theirs to keep. The real focus, however, is not just adding technology but creating a shift in the way professors teach and students learn. By redesigning courses to maximize the use of mobile technology, students become more engaged, learning becomes more experiential, concepts become more clear and students leave the class better prepared.
Anderson University is a pioneer in mobile learning and was recognized byU.S. News & World Report as an up-and-coming university and one with "an unusually strong commitment to undergraduate teaching." The Mobile Learning Initiative is a forward-thinking means of enhancing coursework and giving students tools that allow them to demonstrate their mastery of the material.
AU research data found that when technology is incorporated, more students are better able to grasp challenging concepts. For example, pre-testing and post-testing in biology showed that using stop-animation video to learn about the cell division processes mitosis and meiosis led to huge gains in student understanding of those ideas. The key benefit, according to professors, is that students in the updated classes are more engaged and more excited about learning.