Virtual practice environments

Major changes are underway in the way Monash University teaches pharmacy to undergraduate students

One of two virtual practice environments for small group high tech teaching, with a variety of professional settings.

Background

Small group, high tech virtual practice environments (VPE) replace traditional and outdated model pharmacy.

Flexible healthcare and industry settings

Unlike the former model pharmacy these flexible spaces can transport students to a variety of health care settings, such as a community pharmacy, hospital ward or dispensary, home setting, rural pharmacy depot and remote community health service, where they can interact with virtual ‘patients’, health professionals and others through role playing, video conferencing, online software and avatars.

Through the safe and supervised VPE environment, students are exposed to processes encountered in practical placements, greatly enhancing their confidence, knowledge and skills before entering into the community as student pharmacists.

The VPE technology can be readily adapted to reflect changes in both professional practice and physical environments. Work on the first community pharmacy setting is complete, with action underway to establish other practice and industry settings.

Technology and space

High-resolution screens in each VPE space create an expansive 10m wide, 3m high area for projecting film footage and still images.

Contact

Greg Duncan, Lecturer
Marian Costelloe, Faculty Manager
Chris Barnes, IT and multimedia