AUDITORIUM PRESENTATION
The Integrated use of Laptop Computers in
Peter G.M. de Jong, Henk L. Hendrix
ABSTRACT:
In September 2000,
the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) initiated the use of laptop
computers by students in medical school by motivating them to buy a dedicated
LUMC-laptop under very attractive financial conditions. The students were
exclusively allowed to use the educational network by wireless connections throughout
the campus. Almost 90% (300 participants) of all first year students at that
time joined the project. This project has been repeated ever since, resulting
at this time in an almost complete coverage of all medical students in
undergraduate clinical education.
During the first
year, a situation did arise where students were equipped very well, but faculty
were not prepared at all to use ICT in their educational programmes. As a
result, students were not happy with the situation and started complaining to
faculty. This process resulted in a very rapid growth of ICT-use by faculty in
the curriculum. The digital learning environment was used more and more
intensively to distribute announcements, information, assignments, schedules,
and tests and test results. Also several initiatives were started to involve
students in an interactive way by using discussion lists for very specific
topics, and for delivering computer based educational programmes the laptop is
used increasingly.
The project changed
dramatically in September 2003. Until then, the laptops were installed by the
LUMC-helpdesk in such way that security risks were eliminated almost
completely. However, this resulted in a large restriction in functionality for
the individual student and a very large effort in system maintenance of a
rapidly growing number of laptops. Therefore, in September 2003 all student
activity was concentrated in a part of the network, which was virtually
separated from the rest of the LUMC-network (Vlan-technology). From that moment
on, a student was allowed to buy his own laptop, use the operating system he
wants and install his machine by his own wishes. The only restriction for every
student is the compulsory use of a LUMC-network card, which is provided for
free to all students. Technically, the separation of the student network and
the LUMC-network works as desired, however several major problems occurred in
the functionality and the connectivity of faculty and developers with the
materials.
BENEFIT TO PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING SESSION:
Participants
attending this presentation will gain some knowledge into the process of
introducing laptop computers on a very large scale within a medical school, the
arising problems on the level of usage of ICT by faculty and some major technical
issues that are currently being addressed in
P.G.M. de Jong
Onderwijscentrum, room C5-54
PO Box 9600
2300 RC Leiden
the
Phone: +31 71 526
1995
Fax: +31 71 526 6857
CO-AUTHORS:
H.L Hendrix
Director of Medical
Education
the