Doctors Train in Second LifeSecond Life helps teach doctors to treat patientsGame-based LearningA Day in TrainingSecond LifeThe VerdictPurpose & Vision for Second LifeSlide 8Works CitedDoctors Train in Doctors Train in Second LifeSecond LifeSavanna MillenSavanna MillenMIS 304MIS 304April 6, 2009April 6, 2009Second Life helps teach doctors Second Life helps teach doctors to treat patientsto treat patientsAt Imperial College At Imperial College London, medical London, medical students navigate a full-students navigate a full-service hospital where service hospital where they see patients, order they see patients, order X-rays, consult with X-rays, consult with colleagues and make colleagues and make diagnoses. diagnoses. These prospective These prospective doctors are treating doctors are treating virtual patients in virtual patients in Second Life, the Second Life, the Internet world where Internet world where users interact through users interact through online alter egos called online alter egos called avatars.avatars.Game-based LearningGame-based LearningThe third-year med students are taking part The third-year med students are taking part in a pilot program for game-based learning, in a pilot program for game-based learning, which educators believe can be a stimulating which educators believe can be a stimulating change from lectures and textbooks.change from lectures and textbooks. Their aim is to develop a more engaging Their aim is to develop a more engaging learning environment, rather than just learning environment, rather than just replicate what they have in real life.replicate what they have in real life. A senior learning technologist at Imperial A senior learning technologist at Imperial College London feels that, "Game-based College London feels that, "Game-based learning plays a very important role."learning plays a very important role."A Day in TrainingA Day in TrainingIn a real-life classroom, students sit at computers and enter a In a real-life classroom, students sit at computers and enter a virtual Second Life hospital whose detailed grounds are virtual Second Life hospital whose detailed grounds are designed to resemble Imperial College London. There's a 3D designed to resemble Imperial College London. There's a 3D replica of the landmark Queen's Tower and signs point the replica of the landmark Queen's Tower and signs point the students toward the respiratory ward.students toward the respiratory ward.The students pair up for the study, but they are allowed to The students pair up for the study, but they are allowed to collaborate only through their avatars, they aren’t allowed to collaborate only through their avatars, they aren’t allowed to talk to each other in the physical world.talk to each other in the physical world.Once the students are in, a number ofOnce the students are in, a number of steps are designed to steps are designed to reinforce lessons about responsibility and hospital protocol.reinforce lessons about responsibility and hospital protocol.Second LifeSecond LifeCreated by Linden Lab in 2003, Second Life is Created by Linden Lab in 2003, Second Life is a free, 3D virtual world where digital personas a free, 3D virtual world where digital personas travel, work, play and socialize through chat travel, work, play and socialize through chat rooms and other online gathering places.rooms and other online gathering places.Millions of users enter Second Life daily to Millions of users enter Second Life daily to meet friends, play music and even buy and meet friends, play music and even buy and sell property, while many companies, sell property, while many companies, universities and organizations have an online universities and organizations have an online presence in Second Life.presence in Second Life.Medical students at Imperial College London Medical students at Imperial College London began their Second Life training without began their Second Life training without knowing what to expect. Most of them had knowing what to expect. Most of them had heard of Second Life, but none were current heard of Second Life, but none were current members.members.The VerdictThe VerdictThe students unanimously agreed they The students unanimously agreed they preferred walking the wards of real hospitals preferred walking the wards of real hospitals and interacting with real patients.and interacting with real patients.Game-based education is not intended to Game-based education is not intended to replace traditional face-to-face training, and replace traditional face-to-face training, and it's not part of Imperial College London's it's not part of Imperial College London's official curriculum, but educators see the official curriculum, but educators see the program -- which is available online 24 hours a program -- which is available online 24 hours a day, seven days a week -- as a way of day, seven days a week -- as a way of connecting to today's wired, computer-savvy connecting to today's wired, computer-savvy students.students.Purpose & Vision for Second Purpose & Vision for Second LifeLifeToro-Troconis is looking into possible Toro-Troconis is looking into possible partnerships with other universities around the partnerships with other universities around the world and envisions a day when nursing world and envisions a day when nursing students from Australia use Second Life to students from Australia use Second Life to collaborate with physical therapists from Japan collaborate with physical therapists from Japan and medical students from the U.S.and medical students from the U.S.All of these countries would be playing and All of these countries would be playing and learning together in a virtual environment.learning together in a virtual environment.They recognize that their students come They recognize that their students come equipped with incredible computer skills, and equipped with incredible computer skills, and feel it's a new way of learning for them.feel it's a new way of learning for them.Video Clip of Second LifeWorks CitedWorks CitedCNN.com/technologyCNN.com/technologyBradley, Jeremy. "Can Second Life help Bradley, Jeremy. "Can Second Life help teach doctors toteach doctors to treat patients?." treat patients?." Edge of DiscoveryEdge of Discovery. 27 . 27 Mar 2009. Mar 2009. CNN.com/technology. 30 Mar CNN.com/technology. 30 Mar 2009 2009
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