Virtually learning

May 2009

Pharmatopia and Aesclepia are hosted on Second Life. (A virtual world)

Building on the success of the Pharmatopia project (profiled in Alchemy 15), the faculty is collaborating with three universities in the UK, as well as the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash, to develop Aesclepia, an adjoining virtual island on Second Life.

Aesclepia, taken from the name of the Greek god of medicine and healing, will specifically focus on inter-professional learning opportunities in the health sciences. The first project will be the development of an aged care ward within the Aesclepia hospital, where patients have various poly-pharmacy issues. Medical students and pharmacy students will learn together to solve the virtual patients’ problems.

Both Pharmatopia and Aesclepia are hosted on Second Life, an internet-based virtual world that is accessed through a free, downloadable client program. It enables users to assume an identity (avatar) and interact with each other. Avatars can explore, participate in individual and group activities, and create and trade items and services with each other. Communication and interaction occurs by using a keyboard or headphones.

While initially Aesclepia will focus on opportunities for medical and pharmacy students, it is hoped that the scope will broaden and that other health science disciplines will take part in this shared practice approach to learning.