Assessment of student learning behaviors to guide the integration of technology in curriculum reform

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to characterize medical students' learning behaviors and preferences related to information technology (IT) and assess their educational needs related to advances in IT and simulation in order to optimize curriculum and educational space design. An online survey was administered to all medical students enrolled in graduate medical education at Emory University School of Medicine. The survey assessed subjects' demographic data, current technology usage, and experiences and preferences related to: informatics, facilities, online learning, staff support and simulation. The response rate was 49% (214 of 440). 95% of respondents reported computer use of greater than 6 hours per week, and 75% reported owning and regularly using a laptop computer. Despite regularly seeking computer-based learning modalities, 55% of students reported being underprepared for the application of clinical informatics in their practice. 49% of students prefer group learning and prioritize large group learning areas with large desks. Health science libraries designed to address the preferences for portable technology and group learning may encourage the incorporation of the library into the medical student learning experience, allowing librarians to assume formal and informal roles in the curriculum as students learn to search and apply information resources.Information technology (IT) and simulation are playing increasing roles in medical training and prac-

Health Sciences Librarians' Research on Medical Students' Use of Information for Their Studies at The Medical School, University of Queensland, Australia

“…In a study by Harris et al, 440 medical students at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, were invited to complete an online survey in 2004-2005 on their use of and attitudes towards technology and simulation. 2 Similar to the Australian study, computer ownership was high among the 214 respondents. However, in contrast to the University of Melbourne cohort, more than 40% of clinical students owned a PDA.…”

“…34 Generally, in the literature, students self-report confidence and satisfaction with finding information. 2,4,14,35 However, it may be a case of the students not knowing what they do not know. 36 At Texas A & M University, Shurtz described information literacy training initiatives with first-and second-year medical students.…”

“…Although fewer believed the curriculum adequately prepared them for the use of clinical informatics, only 32% stated a preference for library staff to play a larger role in informatics training. 2 Kuhn and Edwards-Waller found Cambridge students reported confidence in using online material and reasonable satisfaction with the information they found. However, older clinical students were more likely to be critical of their information skills than the preclinical students and to seek more support.…”

“…1,2,6,7 Of health care students, medical students have been reported as the group that made most use of PDAs in reviews that examined use of mobile technologies. 8-10 A recent survey of students at the University of Alberta in Canada found over 64.9% of respondents owned a PDA.…”

Measuring patrons' technology habits: an evidence-based approach to tailoring library services

“…Library literature provides data about patron ownership of devices and operating systems [6][7][8][9][10] and patron interest in new software and technologies [11][12][13][14][15][16]. The rates of adopting technologies and assessing the value of these new technologies in a library setting are also discussed [1][2][3][4][5][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24].…”