Title: Adoption of mobile technology in a problem-based learning approach to medical education

Authors: Rattiporn Luanrattana, Khin Than Win, John Fulcher, Don Iverson

Addresses: Faculty of Informatics, School of Information Systems and Technology, University of Wollongong, Northfield Avenue, Wollongong, NSW, Australia. ' Faculty of Informatics, School of Information Systems and Technology, University of Wollongong, Northfield Avenue, Wollongong, NSW, Australia. ' School of Computer Science and Software Engineering, University of Wollongong, Northfield Avenue, Wollongong, NSW, Australia. ' Faculty of Health and Behavioural Science, University of Wollongong, Northfield Avenue, Wollongong, NSW, Australia

Abstract: The objective of this study is to understand the adoption of personal digital assistants (PDAs) in the problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum at the University of Wollongong (UOW). Therefore, the research question in this study is |what are the appropriate strategies for the incorporation of PDAs into the UOW PBL-medical curriculum?| given the resource and financial implications, technology barriers, electromagnetic interference (EI), social acceptance and equity of learning medicine with and without PDA technology. In-depth interviews were designed and conducted with medical faculty members, educational technology specialists and honorary clinical academics. Six concerns and three strategies for the incorporation of PDAs into PBL-medical curriculum were identified. The strategy for the incorporation of PDAs into PBL-approach in medical education at the UOW could be considered as a guideline for the adoption of mobile technology in medical education elsewhere.

Keywords: mobile technology; PDAs; personal digital assistants; PBL; problem-based learning; medical education; technology adoption; higher education; technology barriers; electromagnetic interference; social acceptance; equity of learning; mobile learning; m-learning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMLO.2010.033557

International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organisation, 2010 Vol.4 No.3, pp.294 - 316

Published online: 04 Jun 2010 *

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