ERIC Number: EJ927818
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Jul
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0007-1013
EISSN: N/A
Developing Simulations in Multi-User Virtual Environments to Enhance Healthcare Education
Rogers, Luke
British Journal of Educational Technology, v42 n4 p608-615 Jul 2011
Computer-based clinical simulations are a powerful teaching and learning tool because of their ability to expand healthcare students' clinical experience by providing practice-based learning. Despite the benefits of traditional computer-based clinical simulations, there are significant issues that arise when incorporating them into a flexible, co-operative and collaborative learning environment. Unlike traditional technologies; immersive multi-user virtual environments such as Second Life can incorporate comprehensive learning materials with effective learning strategies, allowing healthcare students to obtain a simulated clinical experience in an immersive social environment. The purpose of this research was to investigate how a simulation could be optimised in Second Life to encourage teamwork and collaborative problem solving based on the habits, experiences and perceptions of nursing students towards Second Life as a simulation platform. The research was conducted by placing groups of nursing students in separate locations and exposing them to a series of clinical simulation developed in Second Life. The simulation involved a series of problem-based scenarios, which incorporated concepts of technical skills, patient interaction, teamwork and situational awareness. Using qualitative feedback from a series of evaluative case studies, the study determined good practices and issues involved with a virtual computer-based clinical simulation. A common theme which emerged from this research, which is discussed in this paper, was the student's ability to work in an artificial social structure where they could actively co-construct mental models of technical and interpersonal skills through experiencing human interaction in a computer-based simulated environment.
Descriptors: Feedback (Response), Nursing Students, Learning Strategies, Social Structure, Virtual Classrooms, Social Environment, Simulated Environment, Clinical Experience, Computer Uses in Education, Simulation, Cooperative Learning, Educational Technology, Teamwork, Job Skills, Interpersonal Competence
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A