A Paradigm Shift: Koofers and Libraries
After a successful day at George Mason University (Fairfax, VA), where we educated, excited and signed up new users, we were posed with a question by one student who immediately thought she didn’t need Koofers’ services. One female student came by our stand interested in learning about Koofers and what we were doing on campus. After explaining the ‘who,’ ‘what’ and ‘how’ of Koofers, she wanted to know the ‘why.’
Question posed: “I’m a straight A student. Why should I support Koofers? If I can succeed in school without your services why should others get to use you for help? Can’t they study like I do?”
Koofers response: “Well there is a library on every campus for students to use. But just because you may not use it for a particular class doesn’t mean you are opposed to the other students that choose to utilize it, right?”
That answer appealed to student and she hung around a little longer to learn more. She even walked away sporting a Koofers t-shirt!
But her question is a concern shared by many students and faculty. And while Koofers is in many regards an online library, it is also so much more. For students who don’t need the additional support to study for exams we offer tools that are easy to use that will help you: plan your schedules; buy, sell and rent textbooks at the best price; communicate with classmates and professors; and research professors so you aren’t blindly selecting courses with professors you know nothing about. In short, no matter what your needs are, Koofers is a win-win for all students.
We’ll be back at George Mason on May 4 in the Johnson Center for anyone who wants to stop by, check us out and get a free t-shirt and other goodies!
iPad Phenomenon
Apple’s iPad has become the latest craze on college campuses. And it is easy to see why. It has a screen the size of a laptop yet it’s slimmer and lighter weight. It takes the hip features and functionality of the iTouch and bumps it up a notch … or two or three notches.
For personal, general fun it may seem like an expensive tool when you already have a laptop, iPod and smart phone. But when placed on college campuses it may have features well worth the price tag. Similar to Apple’s iTouch the iPad plays videos, iTunes, manages your photos, shows maps, and hosts your calendar, contacts, and more. The advanced tools that would really appeal to a college student are the iBook function for reading and highlighting e-books, the ability to take notes, develop presentations, documents, charts, and graphs using iWork, and of course being connected to the Internet on campus through available WiFi or 3G networks.
While some universities have shown immediate support and enthusiasm for the iPad (think: University of Maryland, North Carolina State University and Seton Hall) others have not been so accepting. Some schools have banned the use of the iPad on campus. Others, such as Cornell, George Washington, and Princeton, have reported problems between the device and their wireless networks. However, most universities are trying to determine their network capabilities to support the iPad and are waiting see how much of a distraction it becomes in the classroom. But what all universities are anxious to learn is just how popular will Apple’s iPad become with students; and is it because it’s the newest gadget or because it is actually helpful with their academics?
Students do you plan on getting an iPad? And if so, is it more for your personal enjoyment or classroom needs?
Take Me Home, Country Roads…
As part of my outreach efforts I choose West Virginia University (WVU) as one of my targets. Given the proximity of the campus to our office I decided to take a one-day road trip to meet with students, earlier this week.
Armed with t-shirts, flyers, chalk, and more, I drove through the Appalachian Mountains determined to give the Mountaineers a lesson in studying smarter – “Koofers 101.” With the approaching final exams this time is of critical importance to students because they can find support on our site with our study materials – notes, old exams, and flashcards, all specific to the courses students are taking. Users may also rate their professors so that other users may use these ratings as a guide when picking classes in the fall. And, again, at the end of the semester now is the time for this since you now have completely formed your opinion of them.
My first stop was to the Mountainlair – WVU’s student center. Buzzing with students mingling between classes and taking lunch breaks it was the perfect place to see and be seen. I was greeted positively by students, some were aware of us, but most had never heard of Koofers before. Among the students that had not previously heard of Koofers their #1 question for me was: “what’s the catch?”
Well, for those of you still not signed-up, there is no catch. Koofers was created by college students, for college students. In an age where all the information you could ever need is publicly accessible online, it only makes sense that this is also true for the collegiate world.
Armed with this information in hand I continued to network around campus, hung up flyers, chalked the ground, and even took a few minutes to admire the beautiful campus. My main mission was to make students aware that as they study for finals there is a free website that has all the materials they need to prepare and ace their exams.
So far we have seen a slight uptake in new users and study materials and professor ranking. Let’s keep that momentum going!
Koofers Takes to The Road…
This spring as students come out of hibernation and prepare for their final projects, exams and classes, Koofers decided to take to the road and meet with students. Our goal? To learn more about our users, introduce Koofers.com to unaware students, and educate prospective users on Koofers.com’s services at their school. And of course, to enjoy the unique societal characteristics, histories, and cultivated atmosphere each university possesses. Follow us from the Atlantic to the Pacific and read about our adventures.
Think Koofers should make a trip out to your college? Tell us why here.