Medical students get iPod tutors

University students are being given iPods loaded with useful tutorials.

The University of Derby has given 35 devices - costing £99 each - to radiography students, to provide them with "different ways to learn".

They contain pre-loaded video lessons about how to position patients for X-rays.

It is hoped the portable video demonstrations will be more useful than traditional text books.

Senior lecturer Ruth Chester said: "They (iPods) are not gadgets, they are things of the future that are here to stay.

"Students want different ways of learning."

The iPods have been supplied to first-year students, who will be expected to return them after two years.

Students can upload their own music to the devices, however the university will check they are still using the pre-loaded tutorials.

Radiographer Sue Errett was involved in creating the lessons and said they would be useful for students on placements.

However iPods would be banned from the X-Ray room.

"I don't feel it would be professional to use it directly in front of a patient," she said.

Ms Errett was particularly worried older patients would be unfamiliar with iPods and think the students were simply listening to music.

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