Improving paramedic distance education through mobile mixed reality simulation

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14742/ajet.3596

Keywords:

mixed reality, mobile learning, augmented reality, virtual reality, 3d printing, distance education, paramedic science

Abstract

There is growing evidence that the use of simulation in teaching is a key means of improving learning, skills, and outcomes, particularly for practical skills. In the health sciences, the use of high-fidelity task trainers has been shown to be ideal for reducing cognitive load and leading to enhanced learning outcomes. However, how do we make these task trainers available to students studying at a distance? To answer this question, this paper presents results from the implementation and sustained testing of a mobile mixed reality intervention in an Australian distance paramedic science classroom. The context of this mobile mixed reality simulation study, provided through a user-supplied mobile phone incorporating 3D printing, virtual reality, and augmented reality, is skills acquisition in airways management, focusing on direct laryngoscopy with foreign body removal. The intervention aims to assist distance education learners in practising skills prior to attending mandatory residential schools, building a baseline equality between those students who study face to face and those at a distance. Outcomes from the study showed statistically significant improvements in the use of the simulation across several key performance indicators in the distance learners, but also demonstrated problems to overcome in the pedagogical method.

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Author Biography

James Birt, Bond University

James Birt is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Society and Design at Bond University, where he runs the Mixed Reality Research Lab. His research spans computer science and visual arts, with an emphasis on applied design and development of interactive mixed-reality experiences assisting discovery and learning.

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Published

2017-11-29

How to Cite

Birt, J., Moore, E., & Cowling, M. (2017). Improving paramedic distance education through mobile mixed reality simulation. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 33(6). https://doi.org/10.14742/ajet.3596

Issue

Section

Special Issue 2017 - Mobile Augmentation