Use of a virtual world computer environment for international distance education: lessons from a pilot project using Second Life

BMC Medical Education

John M Wiecha²  Robin Heyden³  Marloes Schoonheim¹ 

[1] Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Villa Gran-Montfleury, Chemin du Grand-Montfluery 48, 1290 Versoix, Switzerland;Office of Medical Education, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord St., B2900, Boston, MA 02118-2518, USA;Heyden Ty, 2500 San Jose Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501, USA

关键词: Computer simulation;    Distance education;    Computer aided instruction;    Computer-assisted instruction;    Continuing medical education;    Medical education;   

Others  :  1118329
DOI  :  10.1186/1472-6920-14-36

 received in 2013-10-04, accepted in 2014-02-17,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Virtual worlds (VWs), in which participants navigate as avatars through three-dimensional, computer-generated, realistic-looking environments, are emerging as important new technologies for distance health education. However, there is relatively little documented experience using VWs for international healthcare training. The Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research (GFMER) conducted a VW training for healthcare professionals enrolled in a GFMER training course. This paper describes the development, delivery, and results of a pilot project undertaken to explore the potential of VWs as an environment for distance healthcare education for an international audience that has generally limited access to conventionally delivered education.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Schoonheim et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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