Evaluating the efficacy of integrating information and communication technology to enhance teaching and learning in physiotherapy

Abstract

Considering the advent of Information and Communication Technology in our lives, the aim of this study Evaluating the Efficacy of Integrating Information and Communication Technology to Enhance Teaching and Learning in Physiotherapy is to assess its usage in Physiotherapy education using Mobile Application. Physiotherapy education involves a lot of practical know how and using ICT tool like mobile application for imparting education can be challenging as well as may offer an opportunity to explore the scope of ICT in enhancing effective learning and creating innovative pedagogy strategies. This may prove all the more beneficial especially when Covid pandemic has forced us to think out of the box for meeting the educational needs of the current generation breaking the barriers of classroom teaching. Smart phones and handheld tablets are devices that promote the use of mobile applications and more importantly, provide platforms that facilitate self-learning, make informal learning enjoyable, and personalize the pace of learning to the individual. To the best of our knowledge, there are very few learning mobile apps that have been used and evaluated in the field of Physiotherapy education. Thus, the purpose of this study was firstly, to modify an existing mobile App to run a physiotherapy course module on Gait and establish its face validity using a questionnaire, and secondly to evaluate the relative efficacy of learning the physiotherapy module using the mobile application compared to the traditional method of classroom teaching among physiotherapy students. Accordingly, the research study was conducted in two phases: In the first phase, an already existing app was modified as per BPT Gait curriculum and in the second phase the relative efficacy of the mobile app was evaluated in comparison of the traditional mode of teaching. BPT students from different institutions were selected for the same. The application thus created was tested on usability by evaluating the students performance using validated MCQ Test Q