Meaningful engagement with students is challenging in an online environment. Video-based technologies can maximize interaction and student learning by providing a platform to practice skills and receive timely, individualized feedback. Implementation of such technology can enhance student learning and assessment across a variety of educational settings.
Students studying to become health care professionals often are required to develop and refine psychomotor skills as part of their education. Physical therapy students dedicate a great deal of time practicing examination and intervention techniques related to improving human movement. In a hybrid doctor of physical therapy (DPT) program, limited in-person instruction and practice time can be a barrier for students as they work to refine hands-on skills. Further, the COVID-19 pandemic posed additional challenges in education including a reduction in face to face instruction, practice, and assessment of psychomotor skills. Psychometric skills are essential in physical therapy education and must be assessed in order to assure safety and competence.
Innovative technologies such as GoReact provide opportunities for meaningful engagement between students and faculty from a distance. This platform allows learners to practice skills and receive individualized feedback virtually in a synchronous or asynchronous manner. It facilitates individuals or groups of students to think critically and problem solve through different learning activities. To support student learning and engagement during Covid 19, when live classroom interaction was extremely limited, GoReact was implemented in numerous clinical classes across our DPT program. Because of its success, we have continued to utilize the video-based technology to provide additional opportunities for engagement and feedback.
This presentation will provide a description of how GoReact was implemented in our hybrid DPT program including a demonstration of various examples illustrating how this technology promoted active learning for students in a hybrid program. Qualitative data gathered from student comments will be presented. An interactive panel discussion of the benefit of integrating versatile technologies like GoReact into educational programs beyond physical therapy and health care will be included.
Individuals attending this presentation and panel discussion will be able to discuss the benefit of video based technologies like GoReact to improve student engagement and outcomes. They will be able to describe specific strategies for implementation to support learning and assessment of students of various ages and disciplines or areas of study. Lastly, they will be able to articulate considerations for utilizing innovative technology for learning and assessment.