Using a Cloud based student response system to track learning Introduction
Background
Today nurse educators are faced with competing pressures from two areas. One is the need to keep up with the rapidly changing health care environment and secondly is the ever expanding education computer information technologies that are now available. One of the recent developments in education technologies has been the development of cloud based (also known as Internet based computing) resources.
What is a Cloud based application? Cloud based applications are located on virtual servers available over the Internet. Cloud computing comes into focus only when you think about what information technology (IT) always needs: a way to increase capacity or add capabilities on the fly without investing in new infrastructure, training new personnel, or licensing new software (Knorr & Gruman 2014).
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) or mobile learning (mLearning) Students can bring their own internet connected device to classroom. Students can access the classroom 24 hours a day seven days a week whenever they are connected to the internet. This flexibility can be utilised by nurse educators to develop innovative teaching and learning strategies to engage nurse learners in this connected mobile online environment.
Innovation A FREE cloud based student response system was used to track preregistration nursing student learning in a first year anatomy and physiology topic. Using the cloud based student response system the educator loaded previously developed quizzes into a virtual classroom and students used their mobile phone or any internet connected device to enter that virtual classroom. Students undertook the quizzes and received immediate feedback on their mobile device about their responses. The educator projected the class’ responses onto the screen allowing the entire class to see the spread of responses and to monitor their own progress. Quiz reports can also be generated and emailed to the educator. This type of Internet technology can be accessed outside of the classroom wherever internet access is available thereby increasing the flexibility for both educators and students. ™ clip of the classroom activity here: use your smar t phone
http://youtu.be/SDWq7S6ESZs Or
Using cloud based student response systems in nurse education to facilitate: •• •• •• •• •• •• ••
Immediate feedback to learners and educators Opportunities to clarify unclear concepts. Opportunities to compare their understanding with other students in the class Face to face and online courses to gauge student learning of concepts covered Pre course quizzes to establish student’s knowledge Revision quizzes Post course student feedback GoSoap Box
Poll Every Where
Socrative
Lets Feedback
Exit Ticket
Scan for FREE programs
No funding source or collaborators were involved in the production of this poster.
Key Summary Points
Knorr, E. Grunman, G.http://www.infoworld.com/d/cloud-computing/what-cloud-computing-really-means031?page=0,1 accessed 1/4/14. Devices image: http://www.njea.org/news-and-publications/njea-review/december-2013/byod Smart phone images: http://suefrantz.com/2011/07/10/socrative-turn-student-smartphones-into-clickers/
to scan t his QR code
References
View a short
Didy Button
Flinders University of South Australia Email
[email protected] Website www.flinders.edu.au/people/didy.button Office +61 08 8201 3312 Mobile +61 412 746 123
Flinders University School of Nursing & Midwifery
Introduction A Quick Response (QR) code is a two dimensional barcode consisting of black modules (small squares) arranged in a square grid on a white background, which can be read by an imaging device (such as a camera in any mobile device connected to the Internet). Each QR Code is capable of coding about 7,000 numerals with the additional capability to code Kanji (Chinese). This code can not only hold a great deal of information, but it can also be read more than 10 times faster than other codes (Denso Wave Incorporated accessed 5/4/14). Smart phone users can download FREE QR code reader applications as well as FREE QR code generators. Smart phones are handheld computers that nursing education needs to use to our advantage. Using these devices in the clinical area to access information including evidence for practice seems to be a logical step. Professional conduct about using mobile phones to make calls whilst at work needs to be addressed. As a profession we need to be able to utilise smart phones to improve the quality and safety of the evidenced based care we provide.
Background In 2013 at Flinders University School of Nursing & Midwifery in South Australia the internal preregistration commencing student cohort was over 600 students. The QR code reading technology was used to create an innovative nursing practice laboratories orientation activity allowing the students to undertake a self-paced inquiry based activity. QR codes were generated for key equipment in the nursing practice laboratories. The QR codes were printed, laminated and attached to 30 pieces of frequently used equipment. Students were provided with instructions and a hyperlink to download a free QR code reader in preparation for the orientation activity. When the students used their Internet connected device to scan the QR code attached to a piece of equipment the QR code directed the students’ device to a webpage containing information pertinent to the equipment and how it might be used by nurses during their practice.
Innovation
• Directing students or staff to specific online resources • Disseminating the latest hospital information that is accessible via the intranet
Key Summary Points Try Scanning these QR Codes
•• QR code generators and readers are FREE. Two examples include the smartphone and applications. •• Educators can create their own QR codes to increase student engagement with the learning process. •• As a profession we need to develop guidelines to permit the use of smart phone at work to access the best evidence to provide safe quality nursing care.
No funding source or collaborators were involved in the production of this poster.
• Using QR codes to create quizzes at the start of a course.
References
• Creating orientation programs with self-guided QR code trails for students, new staff and patients
QR code.com, Denso Wave Incorporated, viewed 5 April 2014 http://www.qrcode.com/en/history/ Smart phone photo: http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/reviews/item/14757_Review_roundup_QR_code_readers.php Devices image: http://corp-cdn.wishpond.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/QR-Code-Media.jpg Smart phone graphic: http://www.unstoppablesoftware.com/blog/2012/3/19/qr-codes-a-new-trend-in-mobilescanning.html
The use of QR codes in nursing education is only limited by our imagination.
Didy Button
Flinders University of South Australia Email
[email protected] Website www.flinders.edu.au/people/didy.button Office +61 08 8201 3312 Mobile +61 412 746 123
Flinders University School of Nursing & Midwifery
