Story Ideas for Media - 07/11/11

News

Introducing OSU Mobile. Buckeyes have a new way to get campus information: the OSU Mobile smartphone app.
OSU Mobile is a partnership between Ohio State students and staff from various university offices. Its features include personalized grade, schedule, and BuckID information; suggestions for nearby amenities such as restaurants; a real-time bus locator; the Buckeye Stroll historic tour of campus; and the latest news and events.
The app "will put us out there as leaders in the Big 10 in the mobile space," said Steve Fischer of the Office of Student Life.
Students participated fully in the project: Undergraduate Student Government member Christina Sladoje helped lead student surveys to determine desired features for the app, while computer science engineering majors Cody Coons and Scott Cheezem worked on the infrastructure.
“As a student, you usually do not get to see a project of this size develop until after graduation,” Coons said.
Sladoje, who graduated in June and heads to law school in the fall, presented the app to President Gee. Working on the project helped her gain confidence in her leadership abilities, she said.
The free app is currently available for the iPhone; an Android version is coming soon. View details and download the app: http://osu.edu/osumobile/ Download a photo of student participants in the project:
http://www.osu.edu/mobile/news/OSUmobile.jpg
CONTACT: Jim Burgoon, University Communications, burgoon.5@osu.edu or Steve Fischer, Office of Student Life, fischer.141@osu.edu

Research

Ohio State study: Infants learn to transfer knowledge by 16 months. Researchers have identified when an important milestone in infants’ development occurs: the ability to transfer knowledge to new situations.
In a series of studies, the researchers found that 8-month-olds had trouble using newly acquired knowledge in a different circumstance, but 16-month-olds could do so.
“Some time between 8 and 16 months, infants begin learning how to learn,” said Julie Hupp, lead author of the study and assistant professor of psychology at Ohio State University’s Newark campus.
“They begin to transfer their new knowledge and use it in a totally different situation, which is a very important step in development.” CONTACT: Jeff Grabmeier, (614) 292-8457. SEE: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/learntransfer.htm

Events

American Federation of Teachers leader to speak Thursday (7/14). Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, will discuss the relationship between boards of education and teachers at 8 a.m. Thursday (7/14) at Pfahl Hall, Room 202, 154 W. 12th Ave. She will present “Collaboration, Not Conflict” as part of the National Academy for Superintendents Conference being hosted by the College of Education and Human Ecology July 12-14.
The conference, which attracts K-12 superintendents from across the U.S., will focus on the new realities facing public education such as limited finances, greater accountability and statewide testing programs. Weingarten will be available for interviews immediately following her talk from 9 to 9:30 a.m.
CONTACT: Gemma McLuckie, media relations, mcluckie.1@osu.edu or 614-292-4658. SEE: .Full schedule

The person listed as the CONTACT will have the most current information about the story. Call on our media relations staff for help with any Ohio State story: Liz Cook, (614) 292-7276 or cook.17@osu.edu, Shelly Hoffman, (614) 247-4748 or Hoffman.511@osu.edu, Jim Lynch, (614) 247-4110 or lynch.270@osu.edu, or Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385 or murray-goedde.1@osu.edu