iFisher Resources

The iFisher initiative is broader than just providing iPads to each of our students; it aims to transform the living and learning environments on our campus.

In conjunction with the deployment of iPads, Fisher continues to invest in the future of our physical learning spaces to support more active, flexible, and student-driven learning activities. The primary focus is the revitalization of our classroom spaces, while informal living and learning environments are also part of this work as the project continues.

iFisher and the Strategic Plan

Through the iFisher initiative, which equips faculty, staff, and students with iPads kits and modern learning software, we support key priorities of the Fisher 2030: Pathways to Purpose strategic plan. iFisher helps:

• Strengthen student success by enabling flexible, accessible, and high-quality learning experiences.
• Foster organizational innovation by transforming how we teach, learn, and collaborate across campus.
• Promote inclusiveness, accessibility, and equity to ensure all members of our campus community have equal access to advanced learning tools and resources.
• Strengthen professional development by providing faculty and staff with the tools and training necessary to offer a modern, digitally enriched learning experience, empowering them to more fully support the University’s mission.

Training Opportunities

The DePeters Family Center for Innovation and Teaching Excellence offers formal and informal professional development training and workshop sessions. 

Faculty and Staff Devices

Faculty and staff with teaching responsibilities are eligible to receive an iPad, keyboard case, and Apple Pencil as part of the iFisher initiative. Deployment of the iPad kit is dependent on an agreement to complete the Fisher Apple Academy training experience. Faculty and staff iPad kits are the same configuration as student models and will be upgraded on a routine basis so that faculty and staff are using the same caliber technology as their students.

Part-time faculty are eligible to receive an iPad loaner bundle for any semester you are teaching at Fisher. If you are not teaching in a given semester, we ask that you return the bundle to the OIT Service Desk. All faculty, including part-time faculty, must agree to complete the Fisher Apple Academy before being loaned an iPad bundle.

The DePeters Family Center for Innovation & Teaching Excellence provides support to faculty looking to use the iPad to transform their course experience. The first step is to complete Fisher Apple Academy 1.0, but even beyond that, there are a number of additional opportunities to expand your iPad skills and their use within your courses. We also offer Fisher Apple Academy 2.0, which expands upon the skills learned in 1.0. Please reach out to cite@sjf.edu to start the conversation.

All staff who receive an iPad are required to complete four training sessions to help you get the most out of your device. Once you receive your University-issued iPad, our team will contact you to begin the iPad training process. Training starts with a guided overview of the device and its core features, ensuring you feel confident with basic navigation and functionality. From there, you can explore a variety of targeted training sessions designed specifically for staff workflows. Topics include sessions covering smart iPad strategies—like productivity tips, file management, digital whiteboards, and Notability—to help you work more efficiently. Every session is tailored to staff needs and real-world tasks, helping you make the most of your iPad in your daily work.

Classroom Technology

There are Apple TVs in all learning spaces on campus, so you can use your iPad to project to class in any classroom.

iPads distributed to faculty, staff, and students all come with a suite of apps consistently used at Fisher. Most of these apps are available for free. Fisher provides one app for all of our devices, Notability. This app is a great tool for so many purposes, from note-taking, presenting, whiteboard drawing, voice commenting, and more. If you have identified another app you would like to require your students to use in a given course, you may do so. If it is free, just ask all students to download it on their own iPad at the start of the semester. If it is not free, you can make it part of the required course materials for students to purchase, or you can work with your department to purchase enough licenses for your students to use. Please contact the OIT Service Desk for support with purchases and distributing apps via departmental purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions