NSU Horizons Spring 2014

36 HORIZONS But as Echols was playing, it dawned on her that the virtual world might be a great teaching tool. Echols, assistant dean of medical education, found, to her surprise, that no one else in her field was using it. Thus began a three-year journey that has resulted in NSU osteopathic students learning bedside manner and diag- nostic techniques in a 3-D online uni- verse called Second Life. Both Winkler and Echols use Sec- ond Life, owned by Linden Labs, which leases animated locales on the Internet, much like a computer game. Echols describes it as a tool to enhance distance learning “by pro- viding students and teachers with a new way to interact, collaborate, and engage. …Users can reside, socialize, and interact as avatars.” Trevine Albert, in his second year of premed, is one of four NSU stu- dents involved in the beta testing of Echols’ program. While the first offi- cial course is planned for the fall 2014 semester, students such as Albert have been involved not only in the testing, but also in offering ideas for the tech- nicians at NSU constructing the site. “Our generation will be more tech savvy,” said Albert, who gives the example of the changes in tracking of diabetics. “It used to be that diabetic patients would use a glucose monitor at home and record results in a notebook that they would bring to the doc- tor. Now, glucose monitors are available that automati- cally send daily readings in real time to the physicians.” Albert, who will become student government presi- dent in June, explains the mechanics of the program Echols and her staff are build- ing. “You experience different patient scenarios,” he said. Once logged in, he enters what is called the NSU-COM Virtual Clinic. As his avatar, which he has named T-Mac, he proceeds to one of the patient rooms. “It might be a patient who fainted and is in the hospital,” said Albert. “I would practice asking questions to find out the source of the injury. But if I asked the wrong type of question, I won’t get anywhere. Instead of saying, do you bruise easily, I would be prompted to take a more open-ended question, like ‘What were you doing at the time?’ ” Echols, who uses the avatar name Mardi Charisma (who said learning can’t be fun?), stresses that, in addi- tion to the generational appeal, there are other distinct advantages for future students. “These exercises can be done any time, any place.” Worldwide research In the occupational therapy divi- sion, Winkler is recruiting 96 ampu- tees from around the world for her research study. Amputees face other problems that Winkler believes her program can help. For instance, amputees may do well at the treatment centers, but at home, conditions are totally differ- ent. Some families have to relocate closer to treatment centers, which can create a hardship. “I wanted to find a mediumwhere I can be in the patient’s life on a daily basis. I want to bridge time and space,” said Winkler. Half the participants, who will be recruited from veterans hospitals and Left: Researchers use Second Life in occupational therapy. Below: Sandra Winkler, second from left, guides students (from left) Marisa Rumroop, Emily Prather, and Emmy Sloube through a Second Life exercise. Opposite page, left: The beach house is shown at the Virtual Health Adventures island community. Opposite page, right: Elizabeth Oviane, left, Second Life Virtual World developer; student Trevine Albert, center; and Marti Echols discuss the work on a site that will illustrate NSU osteopathic diagnostic techniques.