24/07/08
Paramedic science students enter virtual world to train for real life emergencies
Paramedic science students at the Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences can now enter online virtual reality world ‘Second Life’ to help them practice their skills in preparation for real life emergencies.
Second Life is an internet based video game in which a three-dimensional virtual reality world is created collectively by its users. Users (known as ‘residents’) can register for free and adopt a character (known as an ‘avatar’) for themselves, and then explore the virtual world of Second Life. Residents can meet other residents, participate in individual and group activities, and create and trade objects and services with one another.
Within Second Life, St George’s, University of London has purchased its own public space known as an ‘island’. Paramedic and healthcare students are able to visit this island and view four different problem-based learning scenarios that have been custom developed by Faculty tutors.
The scenarios are based on widely used teaching resources known as ‘virtual patients’ – online, narrative-driven cases that test students’ decision making skills and their ability to apply their knowledge to realistic situations.
Each scenario features a range of environments so that students learn how to react in different situations and how to put everything into a relevant context. For example: on the underground, in a high street, and even at a night club.
A typical scenario begins with a screen showing some narrative describing the initial information – such as the dispatch call a paramedic receives when they are called to an incident.
Quickly the scenario moves beyond the screen to the surrounding environment. The patient is represented by another ‘avatar’ and there are various other ‘objects’ to interact with – for example one of the first things the students need to do is decide on a suitable place to park the ambulance, and decide whether they need to use their radio to call for back up. The scenario then adapts to reflect the decisions the students have made.
Students observe and assess the patient, make a decision about how to treat them, and then transfer them to hospital. There is the option for students to ask the patient questions as they would in the real world.
The scenarios end with the handover to the hospital.
Alan Rice, Senior Lecturer in Paramedic Science, commented “The Second Life project was developed to create a setting where the paramedic student will be able to practice decision making skills alongside other students in a safe and accessible environment. Traditional training involves the occasional use of simulated events and the addition of this online tool will further enrich the education and preparation of students on our paramedic science foundation degree.”
- For more information about the Second Life project visit St George’s, University of London’s ‘Preview’ project blog
- Visit Courses: Paramedic science