The use of mobile learning by 6th-year medical students in a minimally-supported environment

dc.creator	Ken Masters
dc.creator	Zahra Al-Rawahi
dc.date	2012-05-01T00:00:00Z
dc.date.accessioned	2015-07-20T22:27:00Z
dc.date.available	2015-07-20T22:27:00Z
dc.identifier	10.5116/ijme.4fa6.f8e8
dc.identifier	2042-6372
dc.identifier	https://doaj.org/article/b183971119034f1fbd85b6194e70d281
dc.identifier.uri	http://evidence.thinkportal.org/handle/123456789/21705
dc.description	Objectives: The study aims to identify the impact of minimal support on medical students' mobile learning activities. Methods: The study was performed at the Sultan Qaboos University, Oman, on 129 medical students in their 7th year. The study consisted of a quantitative survey of the students, focussing on their mobile learning activities during their 6th year, while using their own mobile devices (such as smart phones) for mobile learning activities. In addition, their perceptions of barriers to, and advantages of, using mobile devices were investigated. Data were analysed using Microsoft Excel and EpiInfo. Results: All students used their mobile device as telephones and used most of the sophisticated applications. There was significantly less usage made of medical applications, such as clinical guidelines and medical reference tools. Barriers were screen size, cost, limited memory and battery. Advantages were time-saving, ease of access and use. Few students (14 highlighted lack of institutional support as a problem. Conclusions: Lack of support does not mean lack of usage. It does, however, mean predominantly simple usage. Given the importance of mobile devices in modern medical practice, this has strong negative implications for the professional preparedness of students studying in such environments.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	IJME
dc.relation	http://www.ijme.net/archive/3/mobile-learning-by-6th-year-medical-students.pdf
dc.relation	https://doaj.org/toc/2042-6372
dc.rights	CC BY
dc.source	International Journal of Medical Education, Vol 3, Pp 92-97 (2012)
dc.subject	mobile learning
dc.subject	m-learning
dc.subject	medical education
dc.subject	survey
dc.subject	support
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.title	The use of mobile learning by 6th-year medical students in a minimally-supported environment
dc.type	article