Susan Toth-Cohen, Ph.D., OTR/L (SL – Zsuzsa Tomsen ) Jefferson College of Health Professions, Philadelphia, PA Adventures in Research and Teaching at the Jefferson Occupational Therapy Center in Second Life® Professional and Scholarly Publishing, Association of American Publishers, Washington, DC, February 4, 2009

Basic Questions What exactly are virtual worlds? How did they come about? Is Second Life the only one? What are academic researchers and educators doing there?

What exactly are virtual worlds?

How did they come about?

Is Second Life the only one?

What are academic researchers and educators doing there?

Virtual Worlds: Offspring of gaming & virtual reality (Siva, 2008) A synchronous, persistent network of people, represented as avatars, facilitated by networked computers. (Bell, 2008, p. 2) Many virtual worlds exist, for people of all ages, which may be used for many purposes Virtual Reality Gaming

A synchronous, persistent network of people, represented as avatars, facilitated by networked computers. (Bell, 2008, p. 2)

Many virtual worlds exist, for people of all ages, which may be used for many purposes

http://www.virtualworldsreview.com/info/categories.shtml

Characteristics of Virtual Worlds 1. Shared Space : many users can participate at once. 2. Graphical User Interface : depicts space visually 3. Immediacy : interaction takes place in real time. 4. Interactivity : users create or alter content. 5. Persistence : continues to exist regardless of whether individual users are logged in. 6. Socialization/Community : allows and encourages in-world social groups http://www.virtualworldsreview.com/info/whatis.shtml Play2 Train

Unique Features of Virtual World Education Deliver information and reach new audiences in a cost-effective manner Collaborate with other disciplines and institutions to develop projects Meet needs of learners accustomed to virtual environments

Deliver information and reach new audiences in a cost-effective manner

Collaborate with other disciplines and institutions to develop projects

Meet needs of learners accustomed to virtual environments

T he Jefferson Occupational Therapy Center in Second Life ®

Current Aims of Project Provide exhibits on health and wellness for residents of the virtual world and conduct ongoing evaluation and improvement of these exhibits Collaborate with health professionals and consumers/residents to create the content and format of the exhibits, and Provide a way that graduate students can learn to deliver health information for consumers that is engaging, accurate, and benefits everyday life.

Provide exhibits on health and wellness for residents of the virtual world and conduct ongoing evaluation and improvement of these exhibits

Collaborate with health professionals and consumers/residents to create the content and format of the exhibits, and

Provide a way that graduate students can learn to deliver health information for consumers that is engaging, accurate, and benefits everyday life.

Exhibits Produced Healthy Aging Adaptation Home Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Backpack Awareness Stroke Awareness

Healthy Aging

Adaptation Home

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Backpack Awareness

Stroke Awareness

Healthy Aging Exhibit Theme: The “garden” of the brain never ceases being pruned and newly planted. This quote from http:// www.memoryzine.com/neuroplasticity.htm reflects the focus of much research on neuroplasticity.

Adaptation Home Exhibit Displays adaptations for low vision, mobility challenges, and impaired cognitive functioning

Evolution of Second Life ® Focus Bring classes into Second Life ® Structured assignments Content provided through powerpoints, video, & quizzes Collaborative projects & exhibits Program dev. & evaluation Exploration & brainstorming Interactive displays Events

Bring classes into Second Life ®

Structured assignments

Content provided through powerpoints, video, & quizzes

Collaborative projects & exhibits

Program dev. & evaluation

Exploration & brainstorming

Interactive displays

Events

Keys to Success of Project Graduate assistants (paid) Graduate research students (final MS projects) Building and scripting classes Active Collaboration Project focus Regularly scheduled meetings & consistent presence in-world In-world GROUPS!

Graduate assistants (paid)

Graduate research students (final MS projects)

Building and scripting classes

Active Collaboration

Project focus

Regularly scheduled meetings & consistent presence in-world

In-world GROUPS!

Program Development Process Faculty-Student Collaborators Team Weekly Meetings Meeting schedule varies according to project

Faculty-Student Collaborators Team

Program Evaluation Data Sources: Online Survey – surveymonkey.com Demographics Overall response to all exhibits Specific response to the Healthy Aging exhibit (newly developed) Follow-up Interview Optional with open-ended questions Focus group (new healthy aging exhibit) Purpose: To further develop and evaluate the content and format of exhibits and visitor response

Data Sources:

Online Survey – surveymonkey.com

Demographics

Overall response to all exhibits

Specific response to the Healthy Aging exhibit (newly developed)

Follow-up Interview

Optional with open-ended questions

Focus group (new healthy aging exhibit)

Institutional Review Board Application 3 levels of review: Full Expedited Exempt Approved with no revisions or questions Procedures for recruitment and consent were patterned after a study conducted by Texas A&M Participants recruited through education and healthcare groups and event notices Notecard provided for consent 100L honorarium (about 50 ¢)

3 levels of review:

Full

Expedited

Exempt

Approved with no revisions or questions

Procedures for recruitment and consent were patterned after a study conducted by Texas A&M

Participants recruited through education and healthcare groups and event notices

Notecard provided for consent

100L honorarium (about 50 ¢)

Results of Program Evaluation 30 survey participants 11 male, 17 female (2 declined to give their gender) 40% >45 years of age 83.34% with some years of college 23 follow-up interviews Voluntary face-to-face virtual chats Open-ended questions with probes if needed Constructive and supportive feedback given

30 survey participants

11 male, 17 female

(2 declined to give their gender)

40% >45 years of age

83.34% with some years of college

23 follow-up interviews

Voluntary face-to-face virtual chats

Open-ended questions with probes if needed

Constructive and supportive feedback given

Survey Findings 88.33% strongly agree/agree visual, interactive 3-D displays help them learn better than 2-D websites 80% strongly agree/agree the information will be beneficial in real life 93.33% strongly agree/agree the materials were presented clearly

88.33% strongly agree/agree

visual, interactive 3-D displays help them learn better than 2-D websites

80% strongly agree/agree

the information will be beneficial in real life

93.33% strongly agree/agree

the materials were presented clearly

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 Backpack Safety Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Healthy Aging Adaptation Home Most Useful Exhibit

Sample Comments: Real Life Applicability I thought the content was immediately applicable and practical…I think it is a great resource for the OT’s in the state. I never realized how hard it is for someone in a wheelchair to do basic tasks like get things out of the cabinet in the kitchen! I am dealing with aging parents at present and found the suggestions very helpful. We are thinking about re-modeling the bathroom, so it it was timely as well. I am in that (older) age group, and knowing that certain things I do…are actually part of a healthy aging lifestyle - and other points - will keep me focused on pro-active strategies. the backpack display really helped me out because I carry a lot of weight in my backpack with all my books.

I thought the content was immediately applicable and practical…I think it is a great resource for the OT’s in the state.

I never realized how hard it is for someone in a wheelchair to do basic tasks like get things out of the cabinet in the kitchen!

I am dealing with aging parents at present and found the suggestions very helpful. We are thinking about re-modeling the bathroom, so it it was timely as well.

I am in that (older) age group, and knowing that certain things I do…are actually part of a healthy aging lifestyle - and other points - will keep me focused on pro-active strategies.

the backpack display really helped me out because I carry a lot of weight in my backpack with all my books.

Discussion of Program Evaluation Results Virtual worlds appear to be a promising new venue for promoting health and wellness Exhibits in the virtual world can have practical, real world applications Participants in program evaluation are partners whose feedback helps improve and expand upon exhibits

Virtual worlds appear to be a promising new venue for promoting health and wellness

Exhibits in the virtual world can have practical, real world applications

Participants in program evaluation are partners whose feedback helps improve and expand upon exhibits

Graduate Student Participation Project-based approach provides rich benefits for both graduate students and researchers Virtual environment affords unique opportunity for students to develop, test, and refine ideas for educating consumers about important health topics Collaboration is key for development and review process

Project-based approach provides rich benefits for both graduate students and researchers

Virtual environment affords unique opportunity for students to develop, test, and refine ideas for educating consumers about important health topics

Collaboration is key for development and review process

Questions about research and teaching in 2 nd Life? Want a full list of references? Email me.