Presentation about what to think about if/when you consider using virtual worlds and Second Life for midwifery (or any kind) education, given at the University of the West Country, UK on September 3rd 2012.

1. Midwifery Education
& Second Life
Sarah Stewart (Petal Stransky) 2012
Australian College of Midwives
sarah.stewart@midwives.org.au
Creative Commons Attribution BY

2. Sarah Stewart
Petal Stransky

4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw-KL-lCesE

5. What does Second Life offer
student midwives &
educators?

6. Authentic & immersive
learning experiences

7. Safe place to explore
clinical scenarios

8. Imaginative mode of presenting
content & information

9. Access to international
community of midwifery &
health educators &
researchers

10. Access to communities of
health care consumers
Cape Able Island, haven for deaf, hard of hearing &
people with disabilities: http://virtualability.org/our_projects.aspx

11. Questions to ask?

12. Think about what you want to
achieve – can it be better
achieved another way?

13. What resources are already
available in Second Life that
you can use to reduce costs?

14. Who can you collaborate
with to reduce costs?

15. How can you share what you develop
in order to support other educators?

16. What about students who do not have
access to Internet & computers?

17. Educational principles
to follow

18. Don’t be ‘seduced’ by technology –
keep pedagogy in mind all the time

19. Don’t lose sight of
learning outcomes

20. Embed Second Life
into curriculum

21. Design comprehensive
orientation program

22. Allow students & staff time to
‘play’ to build confidence &
competence

23. What technology do you need?
• Decent Internet access
• Quality computers
• Headsets & microphones
• Knowledgeable IT support
• Supportive IT policies

24. Who do you need in your team?
• Second Life developer/builder
• Some one with experience of Second Life, how it
works & what can be achieved
• Educational
designer
• Faculty
champion/s

25. Second Life Education New Zealand
Virtual Birthing Unit &
Normal Birth Scenario

26. Resources
*http://slenz.wordpress.com
• *http://wikieducator.org/The_virtual_birthing_unit_project
*On the MUVE or in decline: Reflecting on the
sustainability of the Virtual Birth Centre developed in
Second Life:
http://www.ascilite.org.au/ajet/ajet28/stewart.html
*http://sarah-stewart.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Virtual
%20birthing%20unit

27. Sarah Stewart
sarah.stewart@midwives.org.au
http://sarah-stewart.blogspot.com
Twitter: SarahStewart
Skype: sarah.m.stewart