1. Online submission for work placements: digital literacy issues
Claire Mc Donnell
DIT

2. Background Final year BSc Optometry undergraduates
5 month work placement
Log book, competencies, case reports, various patient records, supervisor’s monthly report

3. Problems with the paper system
Submissions sent in by post
Feedback not timely
Large marking load for the internal supervisor
Loss of work (particularly log book)
Difficulty getting supervisors to send in monthly reports

4. Solution: Online system
Original plan – everything online
New plan – some patient records, competencies and supervisor reports online
Online logbook created using Google app script
All users must have gmail accounts – DIT staff & students – fine.
Specific gmail accounts set up for placement supervisors (e.g.

5. Digital Literacy Issues
System does not work properly with Internet explorer. Supervisors told to use other browser. Many did not know what a “browser” was.
Most supervisors tried to log on with their personal gmail account instead of the one given to them.
Several supervisors reverted to the paper system having only tried to log on once.

6. Changes for next year
Supervisor training will include short explanation of browsers.
Log in system to change so it is independent of .
Students will start to use the system while still in college.