Promoting Long Term Knowledge Retention by use of KEEpad Audience Response System Dr Marina Sawdon School of Medicine and Health Durham University, Queen’s Campus

Traditional didactic lectures  Important to impart information on problematic topics/ difficult concepts  Sustained passive activity  Does not promote effective learning or retention of knowledge attention wanes after mins Burns, 1985 only 20% of knowledge is recalled later Bligh 1998  Knowledge decays at undesirable rate  Individualised feedback is difficult  Audience response system (KEEpad) may improve this

Audience Response System  Improves and facilitates learning Increasing student participation Improves knowledge retention Provides instant feedback  National Student Survey: Perceived lack of student feedback  Feedback, what feedback?

KEEpad

Study Design  Assess prior knowledge Bransford 1999 KEEpad question asked before lecture starts  ‘Learning occurred’ KEEpad question asked at the end of lecture  Knowledge retention/ decay at different time points KEEpad question asked 1 week and 4 weeks after lecture  Students’ perceptions of KEEpad Evaluation forms

Results Prior knowledge 46±16% ‘Learning occurred’ 66±20%. Knowledge retention 1 week post lecture 77±22% 4 weeks post lecture 79±14%

1 vs 2 (Pre vs post) p= vs 3 (Pre vs 1 wk) p= vs 4 (Pre vs 4 wk) p= vs 4 (Post vs 4 Wk) p=0.044

Evaluation  The KEEpad audience response system gives me feedback on my progress 99% student satisfaction  The KEEpad audience response system aids my knowledge recall 98% student satisfaction  The KEEpad audience response system consolidates my knowledge 98% student satisfaction

“Use of KEEpads was excellent, getting instant feedback is a good learning tool” “I liked the KEEpad system because it allows you to answer questions without anyone knowing if you got it wrong or not.” “I liked the use of the KEEpads, it helped break up the lectures and gave feedback” “KEEpad use…gave instant feedback and kept me focused and immediately applying the lecture content to new situations”

Conclusion KEEpad  Improves and facilitates learning  Increases student participation “…it wakes me up!!!”  Improves knowledge retention  Instant feedback  Low cost  Students love it!

Thank you