ERIC Number: EJ1186089
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1931-4744
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Leave Them to Their Own Devices: Healthcare Students' Experiences of Using a Range of Mobile Devices for Learning
Attenborough, Julie A.; Abbott, Stephen
International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, v12 n2 Article 16 2018
Given recent advances in mobile technologies, there has been a shift from e-learning to mobile learning in UK universities, yet there are few data about how students select and use mobile devices, and whether e-learning systems and materials are fully compatible. Healthcare students have placements in clinical practice where they use mobile devices to access university course information and learning materials. This study investigated student use of devices in the School of Health Sciences, City, University London. Eight final-year students from different disciplines participated: they were issued with a device and reported on how they used it via a personal blog, interviews and focus groups. Thematic analysis was applied to the data. Two groups of themes were identified: factors relating to the devices themselves (strengths and weaknesses; learning to use them; enjoying them) and to the course (university work; in clinical placement). Students had similar observations and experiences of the different devices, both at the university and in clinical practice, and this paper reports on their perceptions. The importance of Wi-Fi access, suitable learning spaces and permissions to use devices were important findings, as was evidence of the enjoyment students found in using the devices.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Educational Technology, Technology Uses in Education, Handheld Devices, Telecommunications, Health Sciences, Interviews, Focus Groups, Teaching Methods, Student Attitudes, Undergraduate Students, Value Judgment, Access to Information
Centers for Teaching & Technology at Georgia Southern University. IJ-SoTL, Georgia Southern University, Henderson Library 1301, Statesboro, GA 30460. e-mail: sotlij@georgiasouthern.edu; Web site: http://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/ij-sotl/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom (London)
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Author Affiliations: N/A