Exploring Virtual Worlds as a Platform for Education: The Virtual First Responder Marc R. Stephens, MAED Multimedia Developer University of Michigan Medical School

Why Virtual Reality for Education? Experiential Learning - Learn by doing Confucius said, “ Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I will understand.” Sense of shared presence Lends realism to a learning scenario, a sense of ‘being there’. Safe environment In VR simulation, potentially dangerous activities can be engaged in without fear of real harm. & let’s face it… VR is fun! :)

Experiential Learning - Learn by doing

Confucius said, “ Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I will understand.”

Sense of shared presence

Lends realism to a learning scenario, a sense of ‘being there’.

Safe environment

In VR simulation, potentially dangerous activities can be engaged in without fear of real harm.

The Elective Course 18 second-year medical students Focus Exploring the technology Application to education Topic for medical relevance Mass-casualty triage Data gathering Videotaped while interacting with systems Interviewed on camera Completed an impression survey

18 second-year medical students

Focus

Exploring the technology

Application to education

Topic for medical relevance

Mass-casualty triage

Data gathering

Videotaped while interacting with systems

Interviewed on camera

Completed an impression survey

The Classroom Medical School Histology Lab Students used their own laptops Built-in ethernet connections Ceiling-mounted projector Seats about 30 people

Medical School Histology Lab

Students used their own laptops

Built-in ethernet connections

Ceiling-mounted projector

Seats about 30 people

Course layout 3 two-hour sessions Classroom Second Life Safari @ Wolverine Island Virtual First Responder @ Play2Train Field Trip Virtual First Responder @ The CAVE

3 two-hour sessions

Classroom

Second Life Safari @ Wolverine Island

Virtual First Responder @ Play2Train

Field Trip

Virtual First Responder @ The CAVE

Second Life Safari First session Intensive SL ‘bootcamp’ session Held on Wolverine Island Equipment shakedown SL basic skills Movement/navigation Communication Avatar customization Inventory management

First session

Intensive SL ‘bootcamp’ session

Held on Wolverine Island

Equipment shakedown

SL basic skills

Movement/navigation

Communication

Avatar customization

Inventory management

Virtual First Responder @ Play2Train Second session Exploring use of SL in the context of conducting mass casualty triage training Play2Train disaster simulator Triage activity collaborative groups evaluate casualty mannequins Assign preliminary triage level Whole-class summary

Second session

Exploring use of SL in the context of conducting mass casualty triage training

Play2Train disaster simulator

Triage activity

collaborative groups

evaluate casualty mannequins

Assign preliminary triage level

Whole-class summary

Triage Mannequins ‘ Sculpty’ object statues bought commercially Edited for project variety of postures textured and colored Click for diagnostic findings

‘ Sculpty’ object statues

bought commercially

Edited for project

variety of postures

textured and colored

Click for diagnostic findings

Video Interlude Virtual First Responder @ Play2Train

Virtual First Responder @ Play2Train

Virtual First Responder @ The CAVE Third session Field trip to U of M’s CAVE Introduction to the CAVE by facility director Triage presentation by Dr. Wilkerson CAVE triage experience

Third session

Field trip to U of M’s CAVE

Introduction to the CAVE by facility director

Triage presentation by Dr. Wilkerson

CAVE triage experience

Video Interlude Virtual First Responder @ CAVE

Virtual First Responder @ CAVE

Factors considered How should we introduce VR to this audience in a way that is relevant to them? Student knowledge level Computer savvy Medical training Medical relevance of content Hardware capabilities of student laptops Laptop and network concerns Technical savvy of our own staff SL Scripting and Building skills

How should we introduce VR to this audience in a way that is relevant to them?

Student knowledge level

Computer savvy

Medical training

Medical relevance of content

Hardware capabilities of student laptops

Laptop and network concerns

Technical savvy of our own staff

SL Scripting and Building skills

Course Support Staff Marc Stephens co-course designer, instructional design, course facilitator Chris Chapman co-course designer, instructional design, and camerawork support Roger Burns laptop/hardware/network support Jason Engling in-world camerawork for Play2Train Patricia Anderson Second Life liaison, in-world instructional assistant Bill Wilkerson, MD triage presentation, consulting with course designers Staff of the CAVE facility at Duderstadt Center Staff of Play2Train in Second Life

Marc Stephens co-course designer, instructional design, course facilitator

Chris Chapman co-course designer, instructional design, and camerawork support

Roger Burns laptop/hardware/network support

Jason Engling in-world camerawork for Play2Train

Patricia Anderson Second Life liaison, in-world instructional assistant

Bill Wilkerson, MD triage presentation, consulting with course designers

Staff of the CAVE facility at Duderstadt Center

Staff of Play2Train in Second Life

Wish list for next time… Distance learners Explore depth of presence Use of SL’s voice capabilities Closer collaboration with relevant faculty More in depth medical relevance Possible course integration More advanced training equipment CPR dummies in the CAVE Advanced triage mannequins in SL Integrate more game-like elements Encourage student exploration of the environment

Distance learners

Explore depth of presence

Use of SL’s voice capabilities

Closer collaboration with relevant faculty

More in depth medical relevance

Possible course integration

More advanced training equipment

CPR dummies in the CAVE

Advanced triage mannequins in SL

Integrate more game-like elements

Encourage student exploration of the environment

Questions & Answers Thanks for attending! Marc R. Stephens, MAED Memetic Projects @ SL [email_address] 734-763-0297

Thanks for attending!