Listening to the student voice to improve educational software
Mari van Wyk1, Linda van Ryneveld1
1a Department of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, Faculty of Education , University of Pretoria , Pretoria , South Africa.
Medical Education Online
|July 6, 2017
Summary
Veterinary students’ feedback revealed that continuous input throughout software development is crucial for successful adoption. Early student input alone is insufficient for creating effective educational technology.
Area of Science:
- Educational Technology
- Veterinary Education
- Software Development
Background:
- Academics frequently develop educational software with low student acceptance rates.
- This study addresses software designed for veterinary students to record clinical skills.
- Initial pilot testing indicated the software was not well-received.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate student feedback on newly developed clinical skills recording software.
- To identify key considerations for introducing new educational software to students.
- To improve the design and development process of educational technology.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study of the software was conducted.
- Student feedback was gathered through group interviews and questionnaires.
- Conceptual content analysis was used for open-ended questions to identify themes.
Main Results:
- Students provided valuable suggestions regarding the introduction of new software.
- A key finding was that students cannot accurately predict future needs before development.
- Continuous student input throughout the design and development phases is essential.
Conclusions:
- Student input must be obtained continuously, not just at the initial development stage.
- Regular feedback loops are critical for aligning educational software with student needs.
- This approach enhances the likelihood of successful software adoption in veterinary education.
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