I’m Not a Doctor, But I Play One in Second Life…

I have a list of examples I’ve encountered in which I think that Second Life is truly serving a functional training purpose.

And even though virtual worlds have been one of the biggest buzz items in the T&D world in the last several years, the list is very short. No doubt, part of my reluctance is because as “tech-savvy” as I am, in SL, my virtual clothes still attach to unusual parts of my virtual body.

However.

I’m adding this to my list.

Photo: Imperial College London

Obviously, as a sometime patient I want medical professionals to get as much hands-on practice as possible. If it’s preceded by virtual practice, I say so much the better. And though the article doesn’t mention it, I have to think SL could prove a very useful tool for doctors’ continuing education, as well…

Hallie

I still think SL has great educational potential, but they (Linden Labs) have to work out some of the basic issues before anyone dares sink major time/$$ into it. The lag, difficulty logging in, computer compatibility issues and steep user learning curve have to be remedied before it can be used to its fullest potential.
Judy Unrein

Hi, Hallie! I do agree with you… I see a whole lot of potential in SL, and that’s probably one of the reasons the technical complications are so frustrating.

I think it’s important to state something here for the general record: I’m not just being a hater by disparaging SL. I am an online gamer on my free time and I understand the emotional impact of seeing and hearing your fellow participants, and feeling like you’re in the same physical space with them. But I’m also very cautious of picking up new technologies — particularly those that may involve large investments — until I’m convinced of the benefit. And that’s really why I’m watching for effective implementations of SL for training.
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