A New Frontier in Geriatric Education
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail."Ralph Waldo Emerson
Virtual worlds are computer-generated simulated environments that allow users to live in and interact via graphical representations of a real person called avatars. Virtual Immersive Environments allow users to build their own world and interact with this simulated world and other participants in the experience. Virtual worlds like Second Life are descendants of popular multi-player games. Recent technological advances have made virtual worlds both affordable and accessible to medical educators. Virtual worlds provide an immersive, rich experience which combines features of the Web 2.0 Internet.
The changing face of technology over the last two decades has resulted in faster cost effective computing systems. This has allowed advancements in 3d immersive virtual world technologies and opened a new frontier in geriatric education. The flexibility and user friendly nature of these simulations has allowed relatively new users to flourish in an artificially created environment. These environments are open-source computer generated platforms such as Second Life allow users to have a visual interface that mirrors the real world.
Our endeavor is to merge geriatric education with this rapidly developing technology and serve as a tool in promoting the heath issues surrounding the care of the elderly.
MISSION
To promote the use of virtual worlds for teaching and learning of geriatrics for patients, caregivers and health care professionals. The GVW group will encourage the development of pedagogically sound projects and activities, while also conducting innovative research and scholarship.
VISION
To become a leader in the transformation of geriatrics education through the use of virtual worlds in teaching, learning with an emphasis in research and scholarship.
