Academic Spotlight
Erlinda C. Abarintos
“The BlackBerry Academic Program has moved us closer to the power and
potential of mobile computing”
- Erlinda C. Abarintos, Dean, College of Computer Studies, Gordon College
Empowering the next generation of mobile apps developers
Erlinda C. Abarintos, Dean,
College of Computer Studies,
Gordon College
Mobile Application Development
In 2001, Erlinda C. Abarintos was
hired serve as Gordon College’s
Dean, College of Computer Studies.
She earned her Bachelor of Science
in Electronics and Communications
Engineering (BSECE) from Mapua
Institute of Technology (MIT); her
Masters In Public Administration
(MPA) from Ramon Magsaysay
Technological University (RMTU)
and has recently started to pursue
her PhD in Technology Management
(PhDTM) from Technological
University of the Philippines (TUP).
She is currently the Regional
Treasurer for Council of Deans of
Information Technology Education
(CDITE – Region III).
The BlackBerry® Academic Program(BAP) is a Research In Motion® (RIM®)
initiative that provides curriculum resources that help academics around the world
bring mobile innovation to education. Ms Erlinda C. Abarintos, Gordon College’s
Dean, College of Computer Studies, based in Olongapo City, Philippines, is using
the support of the BlackBerry Academic Program to teach 4th year college students
about the latest trends in mobile computing and app development using the
BlackBerry® solution.
Working partnership between Gordon College, pinoyBBDev
and BlackBerry Academic Program
Through a Gordon College alumnus, Ms Abarintos was introduced to John G. Bibal
II, the founding member of the pinoyBBDev group and strong proponent for the
BlackBerry Academic Program. Together, they conducted the school’s first
BlackBerry Academic Program orientation and train the trainer workshop for 21
participants representing 12 different regional schools. In turn, the attendees,
who are BlackBerry Academic Program registrants, will disseminate their knowledge
through lectures to their cohort of students equipping them with all the technical
skills they need for future employment in mobile application development sector.
Integrating the BlackBerry Academic Program
Ms Abarintos decided to integrate the BlackBerry Academic Program resources as
an elective course for students under their Mobile Application Development stream.
With the available resources, such as curriculum, instructor guides and BlackBerry
hardware, from the BlackBerry Academic Program, support and training from the
pinoyBBDev group, she ensures that Gordon College offers “the latest trends in
mobile computing” to their students.
Quick Facts
Gordon College joined the BlackBerry
Academic Program in January 2012
With the support from the local
BlackBerry developer group,
PinoyBBDev, Gordon College
hosted its first BAP Orientation and
Instructor’s Training on campus in
April 2012
For a full list of BlackBerry Developer
Groups, visit here.
Fifty 4th year graduating students
enrolled in the first offering of ITE413
(IT Elective III) and CSE413
(CS Elective III)
A 3rd year elective is planned to
launch in 2013 and will target up to
90 computer science and IT majors
Students studying the materials provided
by the BlackBerry Academic Program.
This helps to achieve the College’s Vision, Mission and Goals by “provid[ing] quality
instruction relevant to time and technology by developing, updating and evaluating…
programs. With the addition and integration of the BlackBerry Academic Program…
the college has achieved its purpose.” She adds that, “students are more enthusiastic
to create applications as they can see their output on actual BlackBerry devices.”
Currently, students in the class are developing games and apps for BlackBerry®7 OS
and are looking to “target application development for BlackBerry® 10 soon.”
Join the Club
Ms Abarintos writes that Gordon College has recently created a student organization
called Mobile Innovators Club (MIC), which mandate is to publish student apps and
projects, coordinate events, such as hackathons, and provide tutorials and demos
for fellow students. Since its inception in mid-August 2012, MIC has submitted
and published 2 apps in BlackBerry® App World™ created by upper year students.
Look for more apps in BlackBerry App World as the course electives include an app
submission requirement to complete the course.
Future focus
The BlackBerry Academic Program will continue to be a part of Gordon College’s
curriculum. They are planning to offer a “short-term modular course during the
summer” to address the needs of professionals interested in learning more about
application and game development but do not have the time to enroll full-time.
Ms Abarintos writes that leveraging the resources from the BlackBerry Academic
Program provides “a lot of benefits not only to the students but to the faculty, school
administration and the entire community[…]” She also notes that “the BlackBerry
Academic Program has moved us closer to the power and potential of mobile
computing.”
When asked what advice she would provide other professors integrating the
BlackBerry Academic Program, she recommends that the focus should be on
fostering student application development. “Encourage them to create apps not just
for the sake of passing the subject or simply as a class requirements, but [encourage
students’] initiative and interest.”
Results specific to Gordon College and may not be typical. This material, including all material incorporated by reference herein or made available by hyperlink, is provided or made accessible
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