E-book and tablet programme for UWI Mona Medical students

Author: Andrea Braham
Title: Medical Students Saving Big through eBooks
Source: Jamaica Information Service
Date published: Wednesday, 14 November 2012
URL: http://www.jis.gov.jm/news/leads/32280

Abstract:

The article  reports on a programme bringing e-books and tablet devices to medical students. This e-books programme is said to deliver to approximately 350 medical students all their required text books.

The article reports on a speech delivered by Acting Dean in the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Professor Horace Fletcher, explaining the programme. Prof. Fletcher reports that the book programme involves students paying a fee to access 18 books at the cost of one physical book from the UWI bookshop.
Also reported is the Deputy Principal at the UWI, Prof. Archibald McDaniel, stating that the initiative to begin the tablet programme emerged from the issue of the Medical Faculty increasing its student enrollment and using technology to enhance the learning experience. Prof. McDaniel adds that lecturers and associate lecturers will also receive the tablet device, SmartTab, to utilise as teaching aids.

Plans are mentioned to do the same with primary and high schools and even persons with disabilities (primarily the visually impaired). Minister for Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Julian Robinson  reports that the Government is looking to provide tablets for primary schools. Mentioned is made that supplying computers for the Government's current e-learning programme cost US$1, 200 per computer and lasts on average three years. Robinson reports that the tablet programme would cost lest.


Excerpt:

"Students in the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of the West Indies (UWI) can now access electronic medical texts at a fraction of the cost for the printed material, saving them hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. 

The move has been facilitated through partnership between the Mona campus and local technology company, JL Mobile, makers of the SmartTab.  

For a one-time fee of US$200, the students will receive the tablet and have access to all their required texts for an additional US$200 per year. The one-time charge covers a seven-month warranty and technical support for the duration of the course."