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This paper discusses the integration of two virtual patient systems, UChoose and MedEdCases, to enhance access to educational resources across various platforms. It explores challenges such as differing approaches to multiple-choice questions (MCQs), content formatting, and media item support. The role of the MedBiquitous Virtual Patient standard is emphasized in facilitating the seamless exchange of case content. Furthermore, the collaboration process is outlined, detailing stages of formalizing cooperation, generating data mappings, and exploring transfer mechanisms to harmonize both systems for improved health professions education.
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Integrating two distinct Virtual Patient systems: Identifying challenges and the role of the MedBiquitous Virtual Patient standard Luke Woodham1, Matthew Cownie2, John Wright2, Sheetal Kavia11St George's, University of London, 2University of the West of England
A Post-PC World in Education • Learners increasingly demand access to learning resources in a way that fits in with their own learning practices • In class • At home • When travelling • This requires supporting a wide range of platforms and device types – web, phones, 7” tablets, 10” tablets, iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry, mobile web etc. • This is expensive and time-consuming, beyond the means of most educational technology departments
MedAssess/MedEdCases • Developed by SGUL in collaboration with iBOS Solutions • MedAssess • Distributed internally for SGUL students • Staggered release of cases based around curriculum • MedEdCases • Publicly available version on Apple app store • Currently includes 39 cases • Available for iOS and Android devices • Cases can be downloaded and played offline – no need for a permanent network connection
UChoose • Developed by UWE • Internal audience • Distributed internally for UWE students • Being incorporated into new nursing curriculum for September 2013 • External audiences • General Practice • Acute Trusts • Sophisticated Silverlight Case Editor • Player requires Modern Web Browser (not IE 6) • Player (and video) works on any Webkit compliant mobile device with continuous network connection (unless a case relies on a flash widget) • Best mobile form factor is tablet
UChoose/MedEdCases Collaboration • Aim: To allow learners to access their resources across all platforms • How: By facilitating communication and transfer of case content between the two systems, ideally seamlessly so that published content can be easily pushed to both platforms. • “A standard to enable [VP] exchange across systems has the potential to scale their development and implementation across health professions education, including resource limited settings” – MedBiquitous
The role of the MedBiq VP Standard • Designed to enable exchange across systems • Both UChoose and MedEdCases were designed with knowledge of the standard • Data structures provide simple mapping of branching VP structure • However: • MCQ elements less easily mappable, as not defined in the standard • Requires processing overhead of constructing XML formatting • SCORM packages designed for manual transfer, requiring human intervention
Collaboration Process so far • Stage 1 - Formalise collaboration (NDA) • able to share and directly view each systems data structures • Stage 2 - Generate a mapping from one system data store to the other directly • No need for intermediary XML mapping • Stage 3 - Explore potential transfer mechanisms • Agreed SQLite for initial stages of collaboration • Stage 4 - Implement and test exports to each system using SQLite • Stage 5 – Consider future development plans with a view to “harmonising” the systems and data structures
Significant Challenges • Differing ways of handling MCQs • Not covered directly by the MedBiq standard so interpreted differently • Formatting of text content • ASCII or mark-up? What tags/formatting options are permitted? • Media items • Supported formats, multiplicity of media items • The transfer mechanism • Seamless publishing?
Future Work • Alternative transfer mechanisms • Use of SQLite or indexedDB or OData ? • We used a restricted feature schema • Optional features such as mcq’s, counters, rules? • Closer integration of systems • Potential to develop web APIs to allow content to be pushed between systems automatically • LTI standard for moodle/blackboard LMS’s
OData OData is a standardized protocol for creating and consuming data APIs. OData builds on core protocols like HTTP and commonly accepted methodologies like REST. The result is a uniform way to expose full-featured data APIs.
Does it translate? • Does the system impact on a case’s design? Does the case author need to re-interpret parts of a case for use in the new system? • The nature of the platform alters the user’s relationship and expectations of the content • Different form factor • Different interface • Different input methods • Different screen size • Different activities, different affordance