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Applying virtual reality in medical communication education: current findings and potential teaching and learning benefits of immersive virtual patients

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Abstract

The purpose of this paper is, first, to summarize a theoretical perspective toward the development of a virtual reality innovation in education. Next, we will describe a virtual character project that is impacting the training of medical students in two institutions. In doing so, we will present a summary of three studies completed over the last 2 years, highlighting specific results from the research. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of the impact of these findings on the development and implementation of virtual reality systems for teaching and learning. It is our hope that through providing this study of a virtual reality scenario—experienced by over 100 end-users—from an educational concepts perspective will help others aiming to apply virtual reality to education.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Benjamin Lok, Andrew Raij, Kyle Johnsen & Robert Dickerson

  2. College of Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Richard E. Ferdig & Jade Coutts

  3. College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Amy Stevens

  4. Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA

    D. Scott Lind

Authors
  1. Benjamin Lok
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  2. Richard E. Ferdig
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  3. Andrew Raij
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  4. Kyle Johnsen
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  5. Robert Dickerson
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  6. Jade Coutts
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  7. Amy Stevens
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  8. D. Scott Lind
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Correspondence to Benjamin Lok.

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Lok, B., Ferdig, R.E., Raij, A. et al. Applying virtual reality in medical communication education: current findings and potential teaching and learning benefits of immersive virtual patients. Virtual Reality 10, 185–195 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10055-006-0037-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10055-006-0037-3

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