ABSTRACT
The Internet of Things (IoT) broadly describes how data collected from sensor-enabled computing objects can be shared and analyzed to gain efficiencies or create new opportunities. Corporations have used IoT technologies to gain logistical efficiencies with manufacturing. Higher education has watched this trend with interest, as a combination of changing expectations, and imperiled funding forces many schools to reevaluate how they do business. Amidst the technology proliferation that the Butler Information technology (IT) department manages, a student mobile app was one item that was missing. As early as 2012, Educause research indicated that students were eager to communicate and study using their mobile phones, and although Butler IT created some mobile-ready content, a cohesive mobile student experience proved extremely difficult to turn into a reality. More than a few campus administrators had questions and reservations about ClearScholar’s intended use and implementation. The app started more campus discussions about data privacy and security, and accessibility that helped educate decision makers.
