AN EVALUATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF IT IN A COLLEGE OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY

This paper presents the findings of a case study of the development of IT in a College of Nursing and Midwifery. Data were collected by mean s of postal questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, direct observati ons and documentary evidence. The findings suggest that the majority o f staff used some form of IT on a regular basis, but only 50% of stude nts used college-based IT facilities. The main use of IT was for admin istrative and productive purposes and there was little evidence of IT In teaching/learning methods. Training offered to staff was poorly att ended and training offered to students did not meet what they perceive d as their needs. Although most staff used IT there was still evidence of resistance and stress related to IT use. The use of IT in the stud y college was driven by tactical considerations rather than as a part of an explicit strategy.