Towards the m-portfolio Cotterill SJ*, Angarita M+, Horner P*, Teasdale D*, Moss J*, Jones S^, Walters R, Firth G~, Hennessy S~, McDonald AM*, Fajardo R+, Cendales JG+, Quintero G+ * Newcastle University, UK + Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombia ^ James Cook University Hospital, UK ~ University of Leeds, UK Simon Cotterill

Towards the m-portfolio Introduction The rapid growth of mobile technologies has implications for ePortfolios and portfolio learning. Modern mobile devices (PDAs, smart phones etc) give learners high levels of connectivity. However, relatively little has been done to provide interfaces for these devices to Web-based portfolios. Research into the potential educational impact of mobile devices is growing, but evaluation of their role in portfolio learning is still in its infancy.

Towards the m-portfolio Aims To present key issues for mobile access to portfolios and logbooks, including the potential for impact on education. To present summaries of 5 cases studies of m-portfolios (works in progress) from the Health Care sector, but with wider applicability. To outline IT strategies that allow a synchronisation information, notes, alerts between ePortfolio and m-portfolio.

Towards the m-portfolio Background: m is for Mobile! Games consoles Ultra Compact computers Smart phones PDAs Laptops / Compact Laptops Tablet PCs Media players (podcasting +/- video) Mobile phones hybrid devices

Towards the m-portfolio 3 Ways to Connect (not mutually exclusive) Docking (connect to wired network) 3G/GPRS (phone networks) Wireless (eg. Wifi) +reliable data synchronisation - time-lag for info to central database -potential loss of data before docking +good coverage (few blackspots) +widespread use of mobile phones -expensive (typically cost to learner) -many blackspots +growing coverage / reducing costs +cheaper access to Internet (than GPRS) +easier to manage access / security

Towards the m-portfolio Social Publishing using Mobile Phones Great for unstructured blogging / Social Publishing Limited for a broader ePortfolio where some structure/contextualisation is required eg. artefacts not linked to specific learning objectives/ evidencing skills Some locations do not allow mobile phones (eg. health care organisation in UK) text pictures GPRS video

Towards the m-portfolio Evidencing audio/image/video capturelogging (verified) Reflection text/audio/image/videobookmarks for later reflection (capture/facilitate) recorded on full-Web portfolio Communication coaching/mentoring peer-learning/support for learning Some ways in which mobile technologies could potentially impact on portfolio & portfolio learning: remote interaction/feedback on portfolio m is for Mobile; h is for hype?!! Education on Demand Ubiquitous Learning Anywhere, Anytime, Learning Research required!!

Towards the m-portfolio CASE STUDIES

Towards the m-portfolio Case Study 1. Undergrad. Dentistry (Palm project) Newcastle University Recording student clinical data using PDAs Device-specific Software developed using Pendragon Forms v3.1 (4 years ago) Docking sync Local Database (MS Access) Central Database (MySQL) Secure Web interface Internet

Towards the m-portfolio Case Study 1. Undergrad. Dentistry (Palm project) Moderate success Synchronisation was problematic (before modern wireless) Time-lag from data collection to updating central database. Resistance to change from some users (tutors and students). Practical lessons: Design forms to be as simple and clear as possible, not always easy to do as small screens are easily cluttered and can confuse users. Record checks need to be used (i.e. form validation) as large amount of unusable data was entered. 2002

Towards the m-portfolio Established use of ePortfolios & Logbooks in the MBBS programme of Newcastle University Established use of PDAs & wireless network at the James Cook University Hospital (JCUH) as part of the Hospital at Night Scheme Case Study 2. PDA pilot over a wireless network

Towards the m-portfolio Logbook (part of ePortfolio): mostly tick-box Some outcomes required reflection Some outcomes required sign-off Supervisors signature Saved as graphic +timestamp Case Study 2. PDA pilot over a wireless network

Towards the m-portfolio Conclusions / Future Plans Demonstrates feasibility of using PDAs for wireless access to Web- based formulae, guidelines and log-books in the context of undergraduate Medicine. Extended pilots of full rotations planned for 2006/7 including new value added features of Hospital at Night (peer-to-peer communications) to be evaluated in this context. Year 5 Medical Students (n=31) 21 students made 207 logbook entries & collected 5 signatures PDA also useful for accessing reference materials & comms on the Wards Portability (no where to put it) –> clip on pouches Limitations: 2 week window part way through rotation Feasibility study Case Study 2. PDA pilot over a wireless network

Towards the m-portfolio Case Study 3. Pilots of Mobile Devices in Health Care Assessment & Learning in Practice Settings (ALPS ) Currently running 5 pilots using mobile technologies Mobile Assessment Supporting T&L (media blogs)

Towards the m-portfolio Software: mediaBoard:mediaBoard: –Build web-based multimedia message boards, can add comments by sending SMS (text) or MMS (picture) from a mobile phone. and web access will work too. Hardware: O 2 XDA Mini-S Support & Training –Training sessions –WebCT moduleWebCT module –CCS support Case Study 3. Pilots of Mobile Devices in Health Care

Towards the m-portfolio Pilots: 20 Physiotherapy & 26 Dietetics students Using mobiles during placements Supported by university-based tutors Learning activities: –a reflective media blog, incl. placement observations + learning experiences –log of pivotal incidents that support critical analysis + higher level thinking –opportunity for inter-professional interaction to enhance inter- professional and collaborative working –reflections on how the use of mobile devices adds value (or not) to their work-based experiences –support reflective and reflexive learning experiences –evaluating the key skills of teamwork, ethics and communication (links explicitly to the initial competency mapping activity) –emphasis on supporting formative activities such as a face-to-face clinical debriefing session –support the summative assessment for the Integrated Practice module Case Study 3. Pilots of Mobile Devices in Health Care

Towards the m-portfolio University Hospital Fundacion Santa Fe de Bogotá (FSFB) Mobile Innovations Centre in Education to generate knowledge, capture experiences, and develop research plans in mobile learning across Latin America. FSFB is aiming to develop a mobile-portfolio to be used for medical students to support the coaching and mentoring process. Case Study 4. Mobile technologies at FSFB, Colombia

Towards the m-portfolio Palm OS Windows Mobile ePET portfolio Exploratory work to provide interfaces to ePET from 2 different mobile platforms (asynchronous) Case Study 4. Mobile technologies at FSFB, Colombia

Towards the m-portfolio A consortium of 6 Dental Schools and Postgraduate Deaneries in the UK have developed ePortfolios for undergraduate and vocational dentistry. This built subject-specific tools on the ePET portfolio framework Successful implementation of the Web-based portfolio for undergraduate dentistry at Queen Marys University of London (QMUL) & with postgraduate Vocational Trainees in the Northern Deanery (from September 2004). It has been rolled out in these institutions and subsequently at Newcastle University. Case Study 5. Undergrad. Dentistry (wireless)

Towards the m-portfolio Case Study 5. Undergrad. Dentistry (wireless) Access the same Website: ePET presents an image-light interface if accessed by mobile device Standard Web interface

Towards the m-portfolio CHALLENGES / RECCOMENDATIONS

Towards the m-portfolio Seamless interface with Web-based portfolios ? An IT strategy for developing a seamless m-portfolio – ePortfolio interface: Needs support for both offline (asynchronic), and online (synchronic) synchronisation processes. m-portfolio needs to be able to update ePortfolio databases on the Web in a synchronic or asynchronic modes (possibly supporting both Wifi & GPRS). Support multiple mobile platforms (PALM OS, Windows Mobile, and Symbian etc); portfolio

Towards the m-portfolio The Text Challenge Handwriting recognition software is relatively mature BUT Many novice PDA users do not like inputting text this way (learning curve?) DO like tick-boxes and pull-down lists Familiar but limited Too small? Right size but inconvenient? Getting there? Or should we concentrate on multi-media capabilities of mobile devices: -audio / image / video capture

Towards the m-portfolio PDA Interface limitations The handwriting user interface put the students off entering data; the screen was seen as too small requiring too much time to enter data quickly…Students wanted more pick and choose menu items rather than inputting text Reflection on practice..computer based Web access was preferred to record entries and the PDA used for capturing images or recording critical event reminders rather than full blown portfolio entries. In general students liked the ability to send multimedia remotely to the e-portfolio… m-portfolio : e-portfolio interface Recent study from Nursing in Canada Used more for clinical reference apps. than e-portfolio

Towards the m-portfolio Both technology and pedagogy are rapidly evolving Successive cohorts of learners are increasingly m-literate Strategies for development, evaluation & research need to take this into account! The challenge of rapid change !

Towards the m-portfolio Conclusions The case studies summarised here present a range of different approaches to meeting some of the challenges for the m-portfolio and their interface with ePortfolios. There are great potential educational benefits of the m-portfolio and their interface with ePortfolios. However, there is a need for collaborative development and careful research and evaluation in order to move towards this potential.

For further information: Further Information Towards the m-portfolio

m-portfolio Curriculum monitoring eg. identifying gaps in clinical skills exposure from a centralised database collected by students via PDAs. Engum SA. Do you know your students' basic clinical skills exposure? Am J Surg 2003; 186(2): Potential Benefits of PDAs