Project completion summary
Virtual Children’s is a realistic replica of Children’s Memorial Hospital in Second Life originally designed to support relocation, evacuation and transport training for multiple roles and teams. The exterior of the medical center is bounded by Lincoln, Fullerton, Orchard and Halsted streets in Chicago. The interior of the main hospital includes the lower level, the first floor main lobby; pediatric conference room and the ED. Elevators, stairs, telephones and several patient floors are available. The simulation also includes nurse’s stations, Pyxis machines, code machines, multiple patient rooms with stretchers and wheelchairs to move patient mannequins if required. Web links to access emergency and disaster plans launch from paper and computer terminals. All of the objects currently built out can be reused, revised and expanded upon to support additional learning needs.
Results
• Reusable governance structure, vendor contracts, design process, schematic and digital asset roadmap and other documents for operationalizing the prototype. Tacit knowledge about how SL works as a learning tool.
• An “Invite only” access private island in Second Life with multiple reusable digital assets, avatar roles and web links to emergency preparedness related policies. Tier fees paid through June 2009
• A learning Design for Hospital Emergency Preparedness, Relocation Evacuation and Transport learning
• A $1400 hp laptop computer that can access Second Life and displays graphics in a good response time
• Network ports open to Second Life from inside the CMH firewall. We have connected to SL in Belden and in the Research building. Other locations should see similar results with the laptop.
• Working relationship with Centrax Corporation and ease in sharing assets through our collaboration with Northwestern
• On December 18th, we successfully piloted a learning event that focused on the learning goals of situational awareness and escalation. The collaborative learning event was conducted at Centrax Corporation, 51st floor of the Prudential building. Attendees included staff from the Security function, nursing and Administrative Coordinator and Administrator on Call. Feedback was very positive for all involved. This type of learning clearly works for situational awareness and escalation where spatial context and collaboration are key to decision-making and patient care. These staff members had no prior exposure to, or experience with, Second Life.
Lesson Learned:
• When building a realistic replica, buy at least two islands. Use one for the exterior and one for the interior and use entry/exit doors to manage the teleporting between the two
• If using grant funding, have a back up fund in the event funding disbursement is delayed after approval
• Initial navigational basics should be done as a group rather than one-on-one
• If you put a team in Second Life with a trigger event, be prepared for them to want to be allowed to respond to the situation and to start problem-solving immediately. The immersive environment is very engaging for the adult learner and many of the traditional activities around setup of learning may not be necessary with appropriate trigger events
• A quick spatial navigation orientation to interiors as well as the exterior may be required and should be embedded into the design
• Teach both voice and IM chat for communication and let the user determine which to use when.
