Trends in smartphone-supported medical education: A review of journal publications from 2007 to 2016

Issues relevant to smartphone-supported mobile learning have been extensively discussed and investigated over the past years. Unlike general mobile devices, the advantages of smartphones, such as recording learning and portability, can cross formal and informal education. Smartphones can promote com...

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Published in:Knowledge management & e-learning Vol. 10; no. 4; pp. 389 - 407
Main Authors: Ching-Yi, Chang, Hwang, Gwo-Jen
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Hong Kong The University of Hong Kong - Faculty of Education 01.12.2018
Laboratory of Knowledge Management & E-Learning
Hong Kong Bao Long Accounting & Secretarial Limited
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ISSN:2073-7904, 2073-7904, 2309-5008
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Abstract Issues relevant to smartphone-supported mobile learning have been extensively discussed and investigated over the past years. Unlike general mobile devices, the advantages of smartphones, such as recording learning and portability, can cross formal and informal education. Smartphones can promote communication between health professionals; however, there is still a lack of systematic analysis of the application and development trends of smartphone use in medical education. The present study systematically reviewed research articles published in international academic journals from 2007 to 2016, analyzed the application domains, subjects, and adopted learning strategies, and investigated the research issues of smartphone-supported medical education. The findings revealed that the application of smartphones in medical education and training has not gained much popularity over the past years. In addition to the changes in the software technology in smartphones and the rising number of studies on mobile learning in medical education, research issues have become increasingly diverse in recent years. Smartphone-supported learning has mainly been implemented to develop basic concepts of biomedical information and in information technology environments; moreover, applying smartphones in medical education did not extensively adopt such learning strategies as inquiry-based learning, contextual mobile learning, mindtools, game-based learning, or synchronous sharing. This indicates that most of the studies adopting smartphones focused on skills training and basic knowledge acquisition rather than on the development of learners’ higher-order thinking, for example, problem solving or critical thinking. On the other hand, it was found that the number of experimental studies related to smartphones has increased recently. The majority of research adopted questionnaire surveys and reported learners’ cognitive performances and concepts, while learning behaviors were seldom analyzed. Therefore, this study indicates the research trends and potential research issues of integrating smartphones into medical education, and provides suggestions and references for researchers, medical teachers, and decision-makers.
AbstractList Issues relevant to smartphone-supported mobile learning have been extensively discussed and investigated over the past years. Unlike general mobile devices, the advantages of smartphones, such as recording learning and portability, can cross formal and informal education. Smartphones can promote communication between health professionals; however, there is still a lack of systematic analysis of the application and development trends of smartphone use in medical education. The present study systematically reviewed research articles published in international academic journals from 2007 to 2016, analyzed the application domains, subjects, and adopted learning strategies, and investigated the research issues of smartphone-supported medical education. The findings revealed that the application of smartphones in medical education and training has not gained much popularity over the past years. In addition to the changes in the software technology in smartphones and the rising number of studies on mobile learning in medical education, research issues have become increasingly diverse in recent years. Smartphone-supported learning has mainly been implemented to develop basic concepts of biomedical information and in information technology environments; moreover, applying smartphones in medical education did not extensively adopt such learning strategies as inquiry-based learning, contextual mobile learning, mindtools, game-based learning, or synchronous sharing. This indicates that most of the studies adopting smartphones focused on skills training and basic knowledge acquisition rather than on the development of learners’ higher-order thinking, for example, problem solving or critical thinking. On the other hand, it was found that the number of experimental studies related to smartphones has increased recently. The majority of research adopted questionnaire surveys and reported learners’ cognitive performances and concepts, while learning behaviors were seldom analyzed. Therefore, this study indicates the research trends and potential research issues of integrating smartphones into medical education, and provides suggestions and references for researchers, medical teachers, and decision-makers.
Author Hwang, Gwo-Jen
Ching-Yi, Chang
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SubjectTerms Addition
Basic Skills
CAI
Clinical Diagnosis
College Science
Computer assisted instruction
Computer Software
Critical Thinking
Education
Educational Research
Educational Resources
Educational Technology
Educational Trends
Electronic devices
Electronic Learning
Game Based Learning
Handheld Devices
Health education
Influence of Technology
Informal Education
Information technology
Internal Medicine
Job Skills
Knowledge acquisition
Knowledge Management
Learning
Learning Strategies
Liberal Arts
Literature Reviews
Medical Education
Medical Evaluation
Medical Services
Nursing Education
Patients
Periodicals
Problem Solving
Professional Personnel
Research Methodology
Skill Development
Smartphones
Teaching Methods
Technology Uses in Education
Telecommunications
Thinking Skills
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