title: Using a Smartphone App and Coaching Group Sessions to Promote Residents' Reflection in the Workplace.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Reflecting on workplace-based experiences is necessary for professional development. However, residents need support to raise their awareness of valuable moments for learning and to thoughtfully analyze those learning moments afterwards.
  
  
  METHODS
  From October to December 2012, the authors held a multidisciplinary six-week postgraduate training module focused on general competencies. Residents were randomly assigned to one of four conditions with varying degrees of reflection support; they were offered (1) a smartphone app, (2) coaching group sessions, (3) a combination of both, or (4) neither type of support. The app allowed participants to capture in real time learning moments as a text note, audio recording, picture, or video. Coaching sessions held every two weeks aimed to deepen participants' reflection on captured learning moments. Questionnaire responses and reflection data were compared between conditions to assess the effects of the app and coaching sessions on intensity and frequency of reflection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-four residents participated. App users reflected more often, captured more learning moments, and reported greater learning progress than nonapp users. Participants who attended coaching sessions were more alert to learning moments and pursued more follow-up learning activities to improve on the general competencies. Those who received both types of support were most alert to these learning moments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A simple mobile app for capturing learning moments shows promise as a tool to support workplace-based learning, especially when combined with coaching sessions. Future research should evaluate these tools on a broader scale and in conjunction with residents' and students' personal digital portfolios.
authors.affiliation: K.D. Könings is assistant professor, Department of Educational Development and Research and Graduate School of Health Professions Education, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands. J. van Berlo is senior ICT developer, Department of Educational Development and Research and Graduate School of Health Professions Education, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands. R. Koopmans is professor of general internal medicine, Department of Educational Development and Research and Graduate School of Health Professions Education, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands. H. Hoogland was associate professor, Department of Educational Development and Research, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands, at the time this work was completed. He is now retired. I.A.E. Spanjers is researcher, ResearchNed, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. J.A. ten Haaf is project manager, E-learning, University Library, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands. C.P.M. van der Vleuten is professor of education, Department of Educational Development and Research and Graduate School of Health Professions Education, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands. J.J.G. van Merriënboer is professor of learning and instruction, Department of Educational Development and Research and Graduate School of Health Professions Education, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Karen D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Könings
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Berlo
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koopmans
authors.forename: Henk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hoogland
authors.forename: Ingrid A E
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Spanjers
authors.forename: Jeroen A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: ten Haaf
authors.forename: Cees P M
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: van der Vleuten
authors.forename: Jeroen J G
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van Merriënboer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors; D063731:Mobile Applications; D009426:Netherlands; D011897:Random Allocation; D012647:Self-Assessment; D000068997:Smartphone