July 2009 SLATE Meeting Notes

The July 2009 Midwest Blackboard Users Group (SLATE) meeting was held at the University of Illinois Chicago on July 22, 2009. 35 members representing the following institutions attended:

• Chicago State University
• College of DuPage
• College of Lake County
• Concordia University Chicago
• DePaul University
• Dominican University
• Joint Commission Resources
• Roosevelt University
• Loyola University Chicago
• Moraine Valley Community College
• North Park University
• Northeastern Illinois University
• Northern Illinois University
• Northwestern University
• Robert Morris University
• University of Chicago
• University of Illinois Chicago

The meeting then opened with Ken Sadowski from the University of Chicago covering a few business-related items. The discussion then centered on mobile learning. Representatives from AT&T, Apple, and Blackboard were on hand and gave presentations on mobile learning.

Mary Lasica, AT&T Education Specialist, shared the following presentation entitled, "Mobile Learning / Portable Thoughts"



Michael Miley, Apple Engineer, then shared about Apple's position in the mobile learning market and current mobile learning solutions available on Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch.

Phillip Blumenthal, Sr. Mgr Product Strategy and Aaron Wasserman, co-founder of MobileEdu, Blackboard's new mobile learning division, were on hand to share Blackboard's perspective on mobile learning and the future.

The next meeting will be held Friday, September 25, 2009 at Goshen College. Watch the SLATE Listserv or SLATE Blog for upcoming meeting details.