25 Years of Ed Tech written by Martin Weller reviews the advances in digital technology over the last 25 years (from 1994-2018). Some of these topics are largely used in healthcare, and some are less so. As a member of the healthcare field I see the value in the use of technology as an educational tool and the way it can enrich the learner’s experience throughout one’s education.
One idea that is highly relevant to healthcare is Weller’s chapter on virtual worlds. Virtual technology or simulations are heavily used for education in healthcare. Clearly there isn’t an ability to use real life patients in all aspects of training for healthcare so virtual simulations are a close second for patient assessments, playing out treatment plans, and practicing hands on skills. Technological advances in virtual reality simulations are very important to the quality of learning from these simulations. The closer you can get to a real world scenario, the better the student experience. Weller identifies the virtual worlds having strong roots in role playing. This is largely practiced in healthcare education where students “act out” scenarios in order to gain experience.
Weller’s chapter on e-portfollios is the least relevant to my field of healthcare. In the healthcare working environment, most employees are organized by license level or scope of practice through an external licensing body. Once your education is achieved, you usually achieve an external licence that acts as your resume or qualification. Little else is needed when applying for a job or building a collection of education (formal or informal). E-portfolios are typically used to store resources, proof of education, and proof of skills or acquired learning. In healthcare this is generally replaced by work experience in the field or other forms of merit such as references etc. E-portfolios are not widely used in the field of healthcare (yet).