1. Introduction
This project is relevant because of the political agenda in Denmark and the strategy for
VIA University College (VIAUC strategy), which focus on an increase in the use of ICT in
teaching and learning. Apart from the political agenda there were several other good reasons
for implementing tablets into the microbiology laboratory:
The students work in a classified microbiology laboratory on campus. In a classified
laboratory the student has to follow certain regulations to minimise the risk of
spreading infectious agents outside the laboratory. This means that the students are not
allowed to bring their own laptops into the lab; a requirement, which in the past has
made use of ICT in teaching and learning difficult. The introduction of tablets into the
laboratory now makes that possible.
Until now the students have used paper based lab instructions and taken notes by hand.
Subsequently they have worked with their handwritten materials in the form of notes
and drawings, when they prepared their group reports afterwards. The tablets enable
the students to document various results and procedures digitally with photographs and
video recordings.
Until now the lecturer in the laboratory has given instructions to all students at the
beginning of each lecture, e.g. “the procedure for the Gram stain”. Picture 1 below
shows a normal laboratory instruction. The lecturer sits at the desk demonstrating the
different steps in the procedure. It is difficult for the students to observe the details
because of the layout of the laboratory. The use of the tablets makes it possible to
watch instruction videos when the students are about to perform “the Gram stain”.
The size and mobility of the tablets make it easy for the students to bring it to the
different work stations in the laboratory e.g. the chemical fume hood. In addition the
tablet is easy to disinfect compared to a laptop.
When our students graduate, they will meet technology with a variety of interfaces in
their workplaces since paper no longer is a part of the work in a hospital laboratory in
Denmark. The use of tablet computers in the microbiology laboratory trains the
student’s ability to use other interfaces than the one they know from their personal
laptop