Buckeye Leadership Fellows Provide iPads to Students

October 15, 2013

Buckeye Leadership Fellows Provide iPads to Students

By Robbie Noble | October 14, 2013

Buckeye Leadership Fellows (BLF) is a personal professional development program for upperclassmen at The Ohio State University, with a curriculum designed by alumni and community leaders.  Each year, a group of about twenty students from across campus are selected and immersed in real world learning experiences. Technology plays an important role in helping the students be both efficient and organized.

For the past three years, each student has been provided with an iPad, thanks to the generosity of Tom W. Davis.  With the help of student Apple Representatives, BLF trains students on how to use their iPads by focusing on productivity tools and content creation.  Students use the devices at workshops, meetings, and leadership challenges and also to stay in touch with the rest of the group.  Participants in the program are further encouraged to use their iPads in all aspects of their lives.  The program’s director, Edward Pauline said “With hundreds of thousands of people becoming more comfortable with the use of technology at earlier ages, it is important that our next generation of leaders learn how to navigate and use devices like the iPad.  We are thrilled we have the unique ability to provide this tool for them.”  As an added perk, student participants get to keep their iPads after graduation from the program.

The BLF staff has also created an iTunes U course that gives students easy access to important program tools and materials.  This year they opened the course to the public so that students across campus—and across the globe—can see what the program offers and benefit from their shared content.  BLF also welcomes students from outside the program to sign up for their weekly Leadership Luncheon series.