Ivy Tech Community College’s Bloomington campus has partnered with Blue Burro, a local business process software development company, to give Ivy Tech students the opportunity to gain real world experience running an online authoring application called Yarny.
Yarny (http://www.getyarny.com/) is used by over 20,000 people in 30 countries to organize manuscripts and collaborate with other writers in real-time. Since its inception in the summer of 2011, writers have written over 500,000 words using the app.
As popular as it may be, Yarny is not part of Blue Burro’s business model. Chris Martoglio, developer of Yarny and co-founder of Blue Burro, was forced to either find a new home for Yarny or shut it down. He began searching for a long-term home for Yarny in an environment focused on learning and innovation, where young developers could shape it going forward. Martoglio found that home at Ivy Tech.
Last fall, Chris Carroll, department chair of the School of Computing and Informatics at Ivy Tech Bloomington began working with Martoglio and Steve Bryant, executive director of the Ivy Tech’s Bill & Gayle Cook Center for Entrepreneurship, to ensure a seamless transition of Yarny to Ivy Tech.
Ivy Tech assumed ownership in January and took over control of the app providing all updates, support, and new development of the app. Students and interns of various degree programs in the School of Computing and Informatics will play roles in maintaining and administering the application. Software developers, database administrators, informatics, security, and networking folks are all needed to support it.
“It’s a win-win for all,” Carroll said. “Blue Burro doesn’t have to shut down Yarny meaning Yarny users get to continue using the app and our students will get competency-based learning and experience by providing support to a real-world, live application.”
For more information about Ivy Tech’s acquisition of Yarny or about enrolling in the School of Computing and Informatics, contact Chris Carroll at rcarroll@ivytech.edu or 812-330-6223.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.
