Technology in

Education
 The Information Age
• A period in history characterized by:
– Birth of the Internet, World Wide Web
– Development of Internet technology
– Wide-scale computer production
– Development of user-friendly software
• “Fourth Industrial Revolution” today is
characterized by technology fusion:
– Artificial intelligence
– Biotechnology
– 3D printing
– Nanotechnology
 The Information Age (cont’d)
• Impact on teachers and learners:
– Increased accessibility of information (time
and place)
– “Digital natives” think and process
information in new ways because they are
exposed to digital technology from early age.
– Technology is powerful—Teacher must also
understand educational principles, access,
cost, support, equipment, process, outcomes
 The Information Age (cont’d)
• Impact of Information Age technology on
education:
– Increase access to educational programs
– Improve existing practices
– Create new strategies that empower
individuals, transform experiences
 Health Education in a
Technology-Based World
Information Age: Change in focus from industry to
information; impacted economy, culture
(mobile technology, information explosion),
way of life
• Effects on health education:
– Infrastructure can now link people globally.
– The Internet is widely used and available quickly to
most Americans.
– Tens of thousands of healthcare applications are
available online, many for free.
– Development of new field: consumer informatics
(empower people to manage own health)
 Health Education in a
Technology-Based World: Consumer
Informatics
• Aims to:
– Strengthen relationship between patient and
provider
– Teach and empower patients dealing with
health and wellness issues
• Not restricted to computer-based programs
– Studies/implements methods for making
information accessible
• Integrates consumer preferences into future
educational programs
 Health Education in a
Technology-Based World:
Emerging Concerns
• Cybersecurity
– Thirty-five percent of Americans have been
notified that personal information has been
compromised.
– A study of healthcare organizations found
that 94% have been victims of cyberattacks.
– As more health information is stored and
exchanged, increased risk for compromise
– Many healthcare organizations are setting up
patient portals or secure websites.
Health Education in a Technology-Based
World: Emerging Concerns (cont’d)
• Limited oversight/control over posted
Internet/World Wide Web information
– Authorship disclosure
– Quality of information
– Privacy and confidentiality
– Consumers may make serious healthcare
decisions based on information that has not
been reviewed for accuracy, currency, bias.
Health Education in a Technology-Based
World: Emerging Concerns (cont’d)
• Healthcare education and informatics
professionals are working together.
– Internet Healthcare Coalition
– Established the e-Health Code of Ethics
Health Education in a Technology-Based
World: Emerging Concerns (cont’d)
• e-Health Code of Ethics: Principles
– Candor
– Honesty
– Quality
– Informed Consent
– Privacy
– Professionalism
– Responsible partnering
– Accountability
 Impact of Technology on
Teacher and Learner
• Access to information bridges gap between
teacher and learner.
• Teachers are becoming facilitators of learning
rather than providers of information.
– Strive to create collaborative atmospheres
– Memorization becomes less important than
critical thinking.
 Impact of Technology on
Teacher and Learner (cont’d)
• Nurses should help individuals access, evaluate,
and use available information.
– Should encourage and support patients in
attempting to seek required knowledge
• Learner/consumer
– Access to information has encouraged more
dialogue with providers when seeking
clarification and understanding.
– Forced into more active role
 Impact of Technology on
Teacher and Learner (cont’d)
• Learner/consumer (cont’d)
– Those who go online use that information to
make healthcare decisions or feel more
confident in questioning the provider.
– May use information for home treatment
– Twice as likely to look up information after
provider visit
• Easily network to other providers/ patients
• Job training for nurses
Technological Strategies in Healthcare
Education: World Wide Web
• Virtual space for information
• Component of the Internet
• Designed to display information
• Contains billions of webpages
• Text, graphic, audio, and video formats
Technological Strategies in Healthcare
Education: World Wide Web (cont’d)
• The Internet
– Global network of computers
– Designed to create and exchange information
– World Wide Web is a small component of the
Internet.
– Able to exist (and did) without the World
Wide Web
Technological Strategies in Healthcare
Education: World Wide Web (cont’d)
• Computer literacy
– The ability to use the computer hardware
and software necessary to accomplish
routine tasks
• Recognizing the influence of the WWW,
nurses should:
– Assess client’s use of the WWW and clarify
information found
– Share resources
– Help develop Web-based resources
Healthcare Consumer Education in
a Technological World
• Gaps exist between those individuals who
have access to information technology
resources and those who do not.
– Historical risk factors:
– Age (>65 years)
– Race (African Americans)
– Level of Education (<High School)
– Household makeup (homes without children)
– Presence of disabilities
Healthcare Consumer Education in
a Technological World (cont’d)
• Determine whether patient:
– Has an Internet-compatible device
– Has internet access
– Is knowledgeable about using the device
– Is interested in using the Internet for
resources
• If patient has no access but has interest:
– Suggest libraries, senior centers, community
centers
Healthcare Consumer Education in
a Technological World (cont’d)
• Approximately 60% of Americans have
used Web information that:
– Influenced decisions about how to treat an
illness
– Led them to ask questions
– Led them to seek a second medical opinion
– Influenced decisions about whether to seek
the assistance of a healthcare provider
Healthcare Consumer Education in
a Technological World (cont’d)
• Nurses must establish open dialogue with
patients about information found online,
in case patients find it:
– Difficult to understand
– Disturbing
– Misleading
– Inaccurate
– Discouraging
Healthcare Consumer Education in
a Technological World (cont’d)
• Information literacy competencies:
– Identify the information needed.
– Access the information needed.
– Know how to evaluate the information found.
– Use the information deemed valid.
Healthcare Consumer Education in
a Technological World (cont’d)
• Computer literacy competencies:
– Reduce a problem or topic to a searchable
command.
– Categorize webpages according to purpose.
– Identify sources of potential bias.
– Judge the information’s accuracy and
reliability.
– Judge the information’s completeness.
– Determine the information’s currency.
– Identify resources to answer questions.
Healthcare Consumer Education in
a Technological World (cont’d)

• Criteria for evaluating health-related

websites
– Accuracy
– Design
– Authors/Sponsors
– Currency
– Authority
Healthcare Consumer Education in
a Technological World (cont’d)
• New technology is also raising the
question of telepractice and licensure.
– New practice guidelines are likely.
• Ease of use must be considered.
– E.g., patient portals
– Need simple design
– Test data must be understandable.
– Question responses must be checked for
accuracy.
– Responses must be timely.
 Professional Education and the
WWW: Social Media
• Useful for networking, education, support
• Blogs, wikis
– Consumers may turn to these for
health-related information, experiences,
commentary on other media.
• Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
– Used for health education, conversations,
and support
 Professional Education and the
WWW: Social Media (cont’d)
• Advantages
– Relatively simple, cost-effective education
– Learning experiences can be media-rich.
– Sites can be easy to use and access.
• Concerns
– Marketing sites
– Unhealthy or harmful behaviors shown
– Bullying or biased messages conveyed that
can be harmful
– Privacy and confidentiality
 Professional Education and the
WWW: Webcasts and Webinars
• Webcasts: Live broadcasts over the
Internet
– Can share audio and/or video with
participants in multiple locations at once
– Growing in popularity as a training device
for sharing lectures and demonstrations
• Webinars: Web-based conferencing that
allows for interaction
– When well run, can be an effective teaching
strategy
 The Internet: E-Mail/Texting
• Advantages:
– Easy to use
– Efficient
– Widely used and accepted
– Can be used any time, day or night
– Low cost
– World-wide access
– Ability to compose thoughts and questions
– Provides a written record
 The Internet: E-Mail/Texting
• Disadvantages: (cont’d)
– Messages lack context.
– Not all information is appropriate.
– Takes time to complete an interaction
– Time limitation
– Legal issues related to the written record
created
– Privacy and security cannot be assured.
– Text messages often involve a charge.
– Text messages may fall outside HIPAA
compliance.
The Internet: Electronic Discussion
Groups
• Broad category covering many formats of
online discussion
• Uses:
– Means of networking
– Vehicle for information exchange
– Can be used to provide online support
The Internet: Electronic Discussion
Groups (cont’d)
• Advantages:
– Easy to use
– Low cost
– Available 24/7
– Anonymity
• Disadvantages:
– Few checks for accuracy
– Can be time-consuming
– May result in e-mail overload
 The Internet: Mailing Lists

• One of most popular ways to set up

electronic discussion group
– E.g., LISTSERV
• Uses
– Teach large groups at once
– Learning resource
– Collaborative learning
– Learning from experience of others
– Providing service to a specific group
The Internet: Mailing Lists (cont’d)
• Advantages
– No need/pressure to contribute
– No cost beyond Internet access
– No obligation to continue use
– Anonymity
• Disadvantages
– High volume of messages
– Usually no professional facilitator present
– Possible inaccurate information
– Possible group dynamics issues
 The Internet: Other Online
Discussions
• Online forums, message boards, bulletin
boards
– Many are anonymous.
– Most require registration.
– Allow users to post to discussion board
rather than e-mail
 The Internet: Online Chats
• Provide a mechanism for information
exchange between multiple people in
many locations at once
– May be scheduled or ongoing
• Advantages:
– Allow for real-time discussion
– Widely accessible
– Useful for the homebound or isolated
The Internet: Online Chats (cont’d)
• Disadvantages:
– Moves very quickly
– May be difficult to follow
– May lose focus from discussion topic
– Requires everyone to be on at the same time
– Not ideal for those with certain disabilities
or low literacy
Issues Related to Technology Use:
Digital Divide
• Fifteen percent of American adults do not
use the Internet.
– Influenced by age, income, education level,
and ability
– May not be used because of relevance, ease
of use, expense, or physical access issues
– Those at risk are those older than 65,
household income under $30k, did not
complete high school, those with disabilities,
households without children
Issues Related to Technology Use:
Encouraging Older Adults
• Reinforce principles of ergonomics.
• Identify resources that provide computer
access and support in the community.
• Use motivational strategies.
• Create supportive and nonthreatening
teaching environments.
Issues Related to Technology Use:
Digital Inclusion with Disabilities
• Less likely to have a computer and
Internet access
• May have difficulty using hardware and
software
• Considerations
– Web page design
– Software selection
– Adaptive devices
 Technology for Professional
Development in Nursing
• Degree programs for distance learners at
all levels are increasingly available.
• Continued education programs are
widely available in a variety of formats.
– Keep practice current
– Provide career mobility
– Enhance professional development
 Technology for Professional
Development in Nursing (cont’d)
• Staff development and training via
technology is increasing.
– e-learning
• Advantages
– Efficient
– Cost effective
– Promote positive patient outcomes
– Lead to nursing staff satisfaction
– Available 24/7
 Technology for Professional
Development in Nursing (cont’d)
• Distance education: teacher and learner are
separated
– Available at online/traditional institutions
– Includes online courses, correspondence
courses, independent study,
videoconferencing
– Can be very effective
– Students with professional experiences have
significant learning gains.
• Given high growth, likely to be developed for
consumers also
 Technology for Professional
Development in Nursing (cont’d)
• Distance education principles
– High-quality curriculum and instruction
– Online program aligns with institution’s role
and mission
– Faculty support
– Learning resources
– Students and student services
– Commitment to support faculty and students
– Evaluation and assessment of students and
program as a whole
 State of the Evidence
• Growing body of research on use of
technology in patient and professional
education
– Computer and Internet technology have
become integral to daily life in the U.S. and
other parts of the world.
– Focuses are on how technology is used, the
obstacles presented, learning outcomes