Tutors’ perceptions of use of tablet computers in PBL sessions

New mobile technologies have reached the classrooms and are opening new possibilities but also setting new demands to the teaching personnel. We studied tutors’ attitudes, perceptions and experiences on the use of tablet computers in preclinical problem-based learning (PBL) sessions by using a mixed method with questionnaire and interviews. The main finding was that both the students and the tutors used tablet computers in diverse ways. The basic structure of PBL sessions was not disrupted, but the teachers observed device-induced changes in the group dynamics. Information retrieval and checking was faster than before. Collaboration between the students increased, when digital whiteboard application on the tablet computer was used in brainstorming, and at the same time, the role of secretary was diminished. Adverse incidents were few and mainly technical in nature. To summarize, the new era with mobile technology is here to stay and both tutors and students embrace it.