Posted on Aug. 19: Professor will explore new ways of learning

Imagine during your lunch hour popping into a technology playroom to test out new learning technologies, such as an electronic patient case to work through.

That's one initiative being investigated by Ruta Valaitis, the new director of learning technologies for the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS).

“My goal is to co-ordinate and provide direction for the approach to learning technology applications in the FHS,” said Valaitis. “I'm looking for input from a variety of groups.”

She will work with students, faculty and staff across FHS's medical, nursing, midwifery, rehabilitation, bachelor of health sciences (Honours) and graduate programs, as well as colleagues in the University's Learning Technologies Resource Centre (LRTC).

Susan Denburg, FHS associate dean, academic, says this position is an important one.

“It will allow the Faculty to identify different trends in the use of learning technology in order to advance our educational programs and enhance the resources we currently have,” she said.

The new director will be investigating the expanded use of new technologies in the development of problem-based learning, the renowned McMaster approach that has students gain skills and knowledge by working through health care problems.

Currently there are some initiatives, particularly within the medical program, in which health care problems are being presented to students electronically. Valaitis and her colleagues will investigate expanding access to health care problems in an online database as a potentially more efficient way of distributing them to faculty and students, as well as using the database as a curriculum support tool.

One challenge is the variety of settings in which students learn, from the collaborative nursing program with students at both Mohawk College and Conestoga College to the clinical placements of several FHS programs at health care sites across Ontario.

“We'll explore different ways of communicating and relationship building with faculty and students at other locations,” said Valaitis.

Valaitis said her role is not to decide on which forms of technology will be used. Instead, she will facilitate discussion and pinpoint needs within the Faculty.

“I'll work collaboratively with faculty, students and staff to identify a common direction and develop a strategy to reach our goals.”

Valaitis began her new position on July 1, 2003.