7 Things You Should Know About Application Development Tools

Abstract

A new class of application development tools allows nontechnical users to build mobile apps quickly and easily. With these tools, users choose from an available set of templates and menus and can typically build apps with a drag-and-drop interface. Some development tools produce code for a single platform (such as iOS or Android), while others create apps for multiple device types. By providing educators with the ability to easily create their own mobile apps, these tools bring the power of mobile learning to more students, enabling new kinds of mobile learning activities suited to specific learning goals.  

The 7 Things You Should Know About... series from the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (ELI) provides concise information on emerging learning technologies. Each brief focuses on a single technology and describes what it is, where it is going, and why it matters to teaching and learning. Use these briefs for a no-jargon, quick overview of a topic and share them with time-pressed colleagues.

In addition to the 7 Things briefs, you may find other ELI resources useful in addressing teaching, learning, and technology issues at your institution. To learn more, please visit the ELI Resources page.

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