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Mobile Devices
Mobile marketing
Oct 21st
Nancy Dowd, presenting at Internet Librarian International on behalf of New Jersey Public Libraries, explained how mobile technology was used simply and effectively to engage with hard to reach audiences.
Working initially with an external partner, the service used SMS to segment and target audiences, including Spanish speaking parents and teens. Nancy is the Director of Marketing and Communications for New Jersey Public Libraries and publishes a blog that covers marketing trends for librarians and others.
Keeping up to date
Oct 18th
Phil Bradley’s presentation at Internet Librarian International had audience members in a tweeting and note taking frenzy. He explained how he uses a range of tools to help him keep up with new technologies and how he uses social networking tools to share his knowledge and insight with his networks.
He then went on to share his latest discoveries, highlighting tools that can help us perform a range of tasks from file conversion; checking website availability; password security checking; wordcloud generation and much more. Phil has been sharing his presentations via Slideshare since 2006. This presentation (‘What Phil has found’) is, of course, available there too.
UK Medical Students Issued with iPhones for Study Purposes
Oct 8th
The University of Leeds has announced that it is issuing smartphones to all fourth and fifth year medical students. The iPhones will provide access to progress files, assessment modules and educational materials.
According to the University, this is the first time a UK medical school has provided undergraduates with all the tools they need to study off campus via mobile phone technology.
520 medical students will be loaned an iPhone 3GS 16GB for the remainder of their course. The phones will be pre-loaded with a range of apps that will enable students to record notes on interesting cases whilst still on the wards, and test their knowledge of procedures they have just observed. Key medical textbooks and reference works, including guidelines on administering prescription drugs, will also be distributed as iPhone apps. A range of other relevant medical apps that can be downloaded free-of-charge or purchased will also be available.
Students will not be able to use the devices to access confidential patient databases and any case notes added to progress files will be anonymised. Lost or stolen phones will be wiped and disabled remotely. All devices are to be returned to the medical school before students graduate.
“Patient safety has been our primary aim in this development,” said Dr Richard Fuller, Director of the University of Leeds MBChB course. “By linking workplace learning and assessment in mobile technology formats, we have a groundbreaking opportunity to provide instant, timely and detailed feedback to students in practice from patients, peers and clinical staff. By recording this feedback, it allows students to review, plan and ‘feed-forward’ with tutors to ensure their development as safe, effective doctors.”
