On the MUVE or in decline: Reflecting on the sustainability of the Virtual Birth Centre developed in Second Life

Abstract

Pressures in terms of the availability of quality, real-life clinical experiences for students have resulted in increased interest in the use of simulation in a variety of healthcare disciplines. Te wahi whanau: The birth place is a Virtual Birth Centre (VBC) that was created in Second Life in 2009 as part of the Second Life Education in New Zealand (SLENZ) initiative. It was introduced to midwifery students at two New Zealand polytechnics, with the aim of exposing the students to a birth centre environment and providing them with an opportunity to practise midwifery through immersion and engagement in a number of clinical scenarios. It has been just over two years since the development of the VBC, yet it is no longer used in the midwifery programs in which it was introduced. Using the VBC as a case study, we recount its development and critically reflect on the factors impacting on its ongoing utilisation. We believe our reflections offer useful insight into issues relating more broadly to the sustainability of MUVE-based teaching and learning projects and initiatives.

A pilot project of the learning experience of undergraduate occupational therapy students in a three-dimensional virtual environment in the United Kingdom

“…Salmon (2009) advised that strong scaffolding is vital for SL learning; therefore, well-designed and appealing graphics are important for engagement and learning with a game. Stewart and Davis (2012) stated that sustainability is closely linked to adoption of new learning; therefore, issues of value to user, accessibility, technology competence and institutional support are important in the development and sustainability of the environment and should be considered carefully by any occupational therapy educators hoping to work in this way. This of course incurs cost in terms of human and physical resources.…”

“…While there is little empirical evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of using 3D virtual environments in teaching and learning (Stewart and Davies, 2012), it is important to consider the possibilities afforded by these experiences and the potential for using them. Therefore, this study draws on the experience of students in the virtual world and gives consideration to the learning potential in order to begin to develop clear pedagogical strategies for its future use.…”

A review of 3D Virtual Worlds in medical and health education

“…Role playing and collaboration among students allow for practicing their knowledge eliminating errors in reallife. To this end, implementation attempts include virtual worlds for Intensive Care Units [30], a virtual birth center [31] and inpatient transfer simulation [32].…”

Does Repeated Exposure to Critical Situations in a Screen-Based Simulation Improve the Self-Assessment of Non-Technical Skills in Postpartum Hemorrhage Management?

“…Many medical researches are conducted in the Second Life platform and focused on learning and/or the transmission of knowledge (e.g. McGrath et al, 2015; Stewart & Davis, 2012; Wiecha, Heyden, Sternthal, & Merialdi, 2010). In a recent study, screen-based simulation impacted positively the self-efficacy of medical students, the retention of knowledge and focus (Creutzfeldt, Hedman, Medin, Heinrichs, & Felländer-Tsai, 2010).…”