Expanding Library iPad Instruction: Developing and Analyzing a Mobile Technology Curriculum for First Year Clinical Students

The purpose of this study was to review student perceptions and the curriculum plan developed to meet the needs of first year clinical students required to purchase an iPad as part of the campus technology bundle for the 2012-2013 academic year. Under the instruction purview of the library, two areas of focus were determined in collaboration with the university’s IT department: Research and Point-of-Care Tools. A course was developed to guide users to iPad specific resources, increase proficiency with these tools, and enhance the students’ knowledge of research methodology. In order to create an effective program, a review of the current literature concerning mobile instructional technology and trends in academic medical libraries was employed. Statistics regarding user experience, training effectiveness, and preliminary mobile usage data were collected and analyzed to determine the impact of the implementation of the mobile device curriculum.