iStanford for iPad released

By Elaine Ray

iStanford, the mobile application designed to help the Stanford community navigate the campus, is expanding its platform to the iPad with iStanford for iPad.

With more and more students using tablet devices for taking notes and accessing digital textbooks and social media platforms, iStanford for iPad extends the Stanford University campus experience to an increasingly ubiquitous device.

iStanford was originally released in 2008 as an iPhone tool for students to access campus maps, the course catalog and campus news, and to contact professors. Since its first iteration, the iPhone app has undergone several facelifts and now features real-time information about the Marguerite shuttle service, as well as class analytics and campus trivia.

iStanford offers a range of integrated proprietary and third-party applications that make it easy for students and others to get to and around campus, explore food options, manage courses and take advantage of a full range of other services and resources.

"Students regard their mobile devices as indispensible to the way they learn, work and live," said Stanford Registrar Thomas Black, whose team developed the effort. "Providing them with the native tools they need to more intuitively navigate campus life in a way that feels normal and natural to them has been our primary focus throughout the iStanford initiative."

Black also noted that the initial release for the iPad is just the beginning. "We're just getting started with the iPad platform," he said.

One of the service tiles within iStanford for iPad is ClassOwl. Founded by Stanford students, ClassOwl is designed to help students simplify their lives by providing course and event scheduling, and letting users join social and academic groups. Another useful service is an ePortfolio provided by Pathbrite; the tool allows students to use multimedia to make formal and informal connections outside the classroom. There also is a Law School Navigator for Stanford law students and a tile that helps students find mentors through the Career Development Center's Mentor app.

"I use mobile devices, including my tablet, for just about everything, so being able to pick my classes, check my grades and find things around campus that way is quick and convenient," said Stanford senior James Mwaura.

While iStanford is primarily for students, faculty, staff and alumni, visitors also have benefited. In addition to the campus maps and transit information, the suite of services on the platform includes virtual campus tours developed by GoTourIt.

The iStanford for iPhone and iPad apps are now available in the Apple App Store. For more information, visit the iStanford for iPad Facebook page or Twitter feed.

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