Despite fluctuating electronics requirements for students enrolled in Ohio University’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, the college has received a steady increase of applications.
Beginning in 2005, OU-HCOM instated its initial laptop policy, requiring all students to purchase either a home computer or other device to access course documents.
In the 2008-09 academic year, the college began to require electronic tablets in the classroom. However, now students are required to own either a tablet or laptop.
“The way education is so technology driven, the need is to develop our curricular requirements so the students get the most out of the program,” said John Schriner, the college’s assistant dean of admissions. “It empowers students to get the most out of their educations.”
The year the college instituted its first laptop requirement, it received 2,338 applications. This year, it received 4,152.
A large portion of OU-HCOM’s material is available online, including lecture notes that are recorded as MP3 files, that are available to students with access credentials, said Al Reed, OU-HCOM director of medical informatics, in an email.
“With Electronic Medical Records becoming an integral piece of today’s medical processes, medical students must be well versed on an array of digital devices and efficient in their operation,” Reed said.
Some OU-HCOM students also use tablets to analyze mock patient charts that assist students in diagnosing symptoms, said Jack Brose, Dean of OU-HCOM.
“In either curriculum track, whether you’re in your small groups, you’re going to see tons of laptops and students actively engaged on that opportunity,” said Jill Harman, OU-HCOM’s director of admissions. “We encourage it.”
The laptop or computer device requirements are available online and include a requirement of Windows 7, a minimum of 160 GB hard drive and a battery with an average run time of two to five hours.
“We are very upfront about it,” Schriner said. “We have a lot of expectations, a lot of requirements. OU-HCOM talks about it well in advance of their start.”
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