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Evaluating the use of iPads withfirst-year Medics

Learning & TeachingConference8 July, 2014

Mark Hamilton, Gráinne Conole, and Terese BirdSchool of Medicine andInstitute of Learning InnovationUniversity of Leicester

What will we talk about?

• Student-led

• What has happened

• Why we are pleased it has happened

• What’s next

• You can do it too!

Why?

• Clinical medicine is rapidly adopting technology

• Proactive/reactive

• Quickly respond to change

• Provide students with up to date digital tools

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/10914011.Hospitals_to_replace_bedside_charts_with_iPads/

Vision

• For changes to be ground up/student led

• Practical/sustainable

• Open up teaching and learning opportunities

• Catalyst other advances/changes Student’s handwritten note

What we did

• Began autumn 2013

• Full-size iPad given to every first year

• Workbooks no longer printed; instead, PDFs on LMS

• Told students to buy Notability (PDF annotation app)

• Told students to bring iPads to all class sessions

• Qualitative & quantitative surveys

Survey beginning of term

It was easy to initially set up the iPad

Strongly agree 67.4%

Agree 28.9%

Neither agree nor disagree 3.6%

Column1

Strongly agree 55.4%Agree 37.3%Neither agree nor disagree 7.2%

It was easy to download material from Blackboard LMS to the iPad

Survey beginning of termOverall, I am satisfied with using the iPad to enhance my learning in this course.

Column1

Strongly agree 40%Agree 42.2%Neither agree nor disagree 7.2%Disagree 8.4%Strongly disagree 1.2%Unanswered 1.2%

Comparison of survey 1 and survey 2I am satisfied with the learning experience of reading the assigned material on the iPad

0

20

40

60

Survey 1Survey 2

Comparison of survey 1 and survey 2

I am satisfied with Notability as a way to read and annotate the learning material

Stro

ngly a

gree

Agre

e

Neith

er a

gree

nor

disag

ree

Disag

ree

Stro

ngly d

isag

ree

Not a

pplic

able

0

15

30

45

Survey 1

Survey 2

Student quotes• “At first I was a little apprehensive as I was used to paper

format. However once I started using the iPad I had adjusted to the style of learning.... I now find it easy to use a combination of the iPad and written notes... The iPad is extremely useful when trying to access specific material. It also saves carrying lots of documents!”

• “I have found that I am more likely to do spontaneous revision by having all my work so readily accessible on the iPad.”

• “I think the iPads have been a good way to learn. It makes studying possible in more locations.”

• “The iPad is fantastic to use during groupwork, …in fact, I'm not entirely sure how previous years managed these sessions without it!”

How they learn

27% mentioned learning in a group

Self-testing with self-written flashcards and anatomy apps

Location, location, location

Findings• Introducing iPads has been successful

– Replaced paper– Achieved with almost no specialised support– High student satisfaction

• Student-led innovation– Devising self tests– Creative group work– Mindmaps– Drawing

What’s next?

• Interactive ebooks– Video– Audio– Quizzes– Offline viewing– Annotate-able

• Catalyst for staff innovation– Webinar tutorials– Interactive lectures

• Looking at assessment