Final Thoughts by Emily

From being a Student Innovator at Gloucestershire College I have enjoyed experiencing new apps that are helping with both learning and teaching for students and teachers. I now have gathered information about Pinterest, Evernote, Aurasma and other apps and how they can be used. Aurasma was our main Student Innovator project where we have designed our own auras using images, music and text to capture interest and aid better learning.

I decided to become a Student Innovator because I strive on learning new things and becoming part of a project I find exciting especially when knowing that technology is advancing. The project will be widely used and more people will be finding Aurasma beneficial. Jess, Chloe and I had a discussion with Julie Haines, understood any feedback she had and now are attending  our department team meeting to increase awareness for any apps we find beneficial and to explain what Student Innovators is about. Future innovators can develop Aurasma within the college and further promote it.  

Final Thoughts by Sasha

I became a Student Innovator because someone suggested that I would enjoy the experience, which I have. It has provided me an opportunity to explore different apps and see what range of apps there are. I will take away the confidence to try new technology and new apps in the future.

I would recommend this for future students to have a go!

Final Thoughts by Bekii

I decided to continue my journey with the Student Innovators throughout my second year at college because I enjoyed contributing back to the college and helping the new college students to find apps that can make their studies easier.

This year I have reviewed mostly revision style apps such as Gojimo and Khan Academy and even set up a revision hub in which students could come and try out revision apps and ask any questions they have had about the reviewed apps. I was also given the opportunity to help to give a speech at DigiFest about what we do as Student Innovators. This was a great learning experience and something that a will help me in the future with presentations.

I would recommend any student to become a Student Innovator as it is not a huge commitment and the fulfilment you feel from helping other students and partaking in college activities is worth donating a few minutes to review an app that could even be of use in your own studies. You learn many functional skills from being an Innovator and can even earn a skills badge.

Final Thoughts by Liam

I became an Innovator because I enjoy testing out new apps and enjoy helping people find apps relevant to them. This year I have looked at IT related apps, such as Team Viewer and Virtual Box which I recommend to other students who are interested in using IT. I attended JISC DigiFest and I took away knowledge about IT, I enjoyed finding out about VR linked with the Playstation, there was also free food!

I recommend being an Innovator because I can see new apps and try them out to recommend to other students for their studies.

Study Blue by Alex

Name of App: Study Blue

Cost: Free

Device/s used: iPhone

Available on: Apple, Android and Online

What was good about this tool?

Can create basic notes/terms to remind yourself in exams revision, access on the go notes! You can only make your own but you can share ideas which is good if you are covering a big topic!

What was bad about this tool?

Found hard to be able to login at home, due to this cannot use certain account types, i.e Hotmail

How did you use this tool? 

Good use in English/Maths and for exam based subjects. 

Would you recommend this tool? 

I would recommend this for those doing exams, yes!

Diigo. by Josh Bradshaw

Name of App: Diigo

Cost: Free

Device/s used: PC

Available on: any platform excluding consoles

What was good about this tool?

It will help you to save time as you are able to highlight and save links to your Diigo library of which for research purposes will be very useful and timesaving app. You can also use your Google account as a means to login. I Highly recommend using the extension as it is at the top of the browser when needed,

What was bad about this tool?

N/A

How did you use this tool? 

Games Research

Would you recommend this tool? 

On a scale of 1-10 I Give it a solid 10. Would recommend it because it will allow more time for leisure as it is a timesaving app.

Virtual Box By Liam Phelps

Name of App: Virtual Box

Cost: Free

Device/s used: PC (Windows 10/7)

Available on: PC, Mac, Linux

What was good about this tool?

You can install any Operating Systems on the virtual box to gain more knowldge about them. You could do this to test if a software is going to work on a certain operating system with a certain about RAM and CPU power. So it is really good for troubleshooting.

What was bad about this tool?

Nothing is bad about it!!!

How did you use this tool? 

Learning about network operating systems and testing software out!

Would you recommend this tool? 

Yes for people wanting to test out installing an OS or using older OSs.