I read something very exciting today. Beginning this year, incoming students at Stanford University will receive iPads as part of a trial program to lessen the burden of books and other materials. Jason and I have discussed the integration of iPads into the classroom at length with friends over the past several months. In fact, it is the topic of choice with two of our happy hour friends, one of them a teacher with specific interests in the incorporation of technology within the classroom. Factor in my own desire/plan to attend medical school and you can see why I found this so exciting. A truly newsworthy item for our house indeed!
I am especially pleased to see that medical schools are at the forefront of this trend. Kudos to Stanford! Being a field that is currently and will continue to experience an almost unfathomable amount of change, it is inspiring to see that those within the medical field do not stop at medicine alone for innovation. The profession is continuously seeking to embrace and integrate new technology into both the daily experience of being a physician as well as the training that goes into becoming a physician.
A quote from the article:
We’re at a major crossroads in medical education reform,” said Dr. Charles Prober, an associate dean with the Stanford University School of Medicine, in a statement. “Part of the challenge facing medical students, and all doctors, is the overwhelming amount of information.
When I read articles such as the one I read today, I feel honored and inspired to become a part of the medical profession.
This is very exciting indeed! What do you think is the advantage of using an iPad in this setting? How would you feel if your textbooks were replaced with an iPad? How would that influence/change your interaction with the text?
I ask, as this has a bearing on how I feel about iPads as replacements for books in general.
One thing I found especially interesting was the iPad having “virtual cadavers” for med students. The article spoke of not only having standard texts but interactive applications as well. This use of technology is very similar to what you and I have discussed.