This is a guest article by Janice Jones who is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Human and Health Sciences at the University of Huddersfield.
This academic year 2011/12, sixteen first year BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy students at the University of Huddersfield are taking part in the M-Learn project. Each student will be issued with an iPad 2 during the first week of teaching. The aim of the project is to enhance the teaching and learning experience for both students and academic staff. By providing them with an iPad; this promotes a flexible approach to teaching and learning. The portability of the iPad 2 will help students to improve their digital awareness wherever they are learning whether in the Occupational Therapy Skills laboratory, at home, in groups or individually thus promoting student engagement.
As a team we have already begun discussions to determine a range of opportunities the iPad 2 tablet will offer the students. We will be learning together with the students as the range of applications develops over the three years of the course.
Initially, we will be considering how the iPads will enhance the anatomy and physiology teaching in module HFT 1010 – Health and Occupational Performance. The portability of the iPad gives the students the flexibility to transfer these resources to any learning location and environment.
We plan to explore the filming and photographic functions of the iPad 2 tablet to enhance the students’ skills in analysing movements and everyday tasks for example making a hot drink. This will enhance the students’ practical as well as the academic skills.
There are further opportunities identified and in the development stages to use the iPad in the first year of the course for example to enhance the development of the students’ professional portfolios and personal development plans.
We will be evaluating the project at the end of the first year with the students. Additionally each Occupational Therapy lecturer has an iPad which they are currently using to develop resources for the target modules. They will be reflecting on their experiences and evaluating the impact of the mobile technology on their own teaching throughout the duration of the project.
Posted by Ola