Using Digital Writing to Create an Authentic and Collaborative Learning Experience

• In Event: Roundtable Session 92
  In Roundtable Session: Evolving Contexts in Educational Technology: Design, Integration, and Evaluation

Abstract

Doctor of Physical Therapy students complete a pharmacotherapy course, delivered online by the College of Pharmacy. Students in this course have been assessed by multiple-choice testing. This project evaluated the development and delivery of a hypertext case scenario document to be used as a more authentic assessment tool. Using web-based collaborative tools allowed students to apply their pharmacotherapy knowledge in a physical therapy patient scenario, while working together with colleagues to determine the best route of patient care. Students developed digital writing skills and practiced evidence-based patient care. The findings demonstrated that implementation of collaborative digital writing with a hypertext document case scenario as the primary assessment tool in this online, pharmacotherapy course is a feasible and effective educational strategy.

Author

• Amy Louise Pittenger, University of Minnesota