Virtual world solution specialists Daden have been awarded a
contract to create the laboratory functionality to enable
scenario-based training as part of the University of Leicester's
SWIFT project in Second Life. Based on Daden's open-source award
winning software PIVOTE, the project will enable 30 students to
learn how to screen for inherited genetic disease.
The SWIFT project has created a laboratory in the 3 D web-based
virtual world of Second Life, on 'land' owned by the Beyond
Distance Research Alliance at the University of Leicester.
Leicester students, in their virtual role as avatars take part in
laboratory activities. Some small scale preparations on lab health
and safety have taken place, but now SWIFT is planning to be much
more ambitious.
The SWIFT project is now addressing some of the limitations of
teaching in real laboratories. These include the pressures of time
and the costs of handling real equipment and working together with
peers, lecturers and demonstrations.
This is where DADEN comes in. They have been chosen to undertake
the development of virtual equipment and processes using
open-source PIVOTE software which is freely available for use by
the educational community. DADEN will create new on-screen 'window'
in the lab which will give instructions, provide feedback and allow
each student to make choices about how to proceed with their
experiments. They will make sure that equipment mimics real-world
use including micropipettes for moving liquids and gel tanks for
separating DNA.
The virtual experience will be offered to first year medical
undergraduates at Leicester this semester in addition to their
usual practical teaching. Up to 80 students will use the virtual
laboratory to learn the techniques involved in screening for the
inherited genetic diseases Huntington's disease, sickle cell
anaemia and cystic fibrosis. Students will have the experience of
testing samples using laboratory equipment and interpreting test
results. The SWIFT project will assess the effectiveness and
success of the virtual world exercises.
PIVOTE was developed through Daden's work on the Joint
Information Systems Committee (JISC) project called PREVIEW with St
George's Hospital, University of London. The PREVIEW project,
created a training system for paramedics at the Hospital won the
Times Higher Education Award for Outstanding ICT (Information &
Communications Technology) Initiative in 2009. PIVOTE has been
released as an open-source application and there are now users from
Argentina to Canada, and across many European countries. Whilst
initially developed for medical training PIVOTE has since been used
for topics as varied as retail customer service and youth
citizenship.
Andrew Jinman, Daden's PIVOTE Product Manager said "This project
will be the first time PIVOTE has been used for multi-student group
exercises. 30 students at a time will be work their way through the
scenarios simultaneously to run simulated genetic tests and
learning about the processes involved in testing samples. SWIFT
demonstrates PIVOTE's functionality and versatility."
Daden will be demonstrating PIVOTE as part of their Daden
Emerging Technology Seminars in October 2010.