The Development of a Virtual World Problem-Based Learning Tutorial and Comparison With Interactive Text-Based Tutorials.

Collaborative learning through case-based or problem-based learning (PBL) scenarios is an excellent way to acquire and develop workplace knowledge associated with specific competencies. At St George's, University of London we developed an interactive online form of decision-based PBL (D-PBL) for our undergraduate medical course using web-based virtual patients (VPs). This method of delivery allowed students to consider options for clinical management, to take decisions and to explore the consequences of their chosen actions.

Virtual patients designed for training against medical error: Exploring the impact of decision-making on learner motivation.

Objectives: Medical error is a significant cause of patient harms in clinical practice, but education and training are recognised as having a key role in minimising their incidence. The use of virtual patient (VP) activities targeting training in medical error allows learners to practice patient management in a safe environment. The inclusion of branched decision-making elements in the activities has the potential to drive additional generative cognitive processing and improved learning outcomes, but the increased cognitive load on learning risks negatively affecting learner motivation.

Exploring the efficacy of replacing linear paper-based patient cases in problem-based learning with dynamic Web-based virtual patients: randomized controlled trial.

Background: Problem-based learning (PBL) is well established in medical education and beyond, and continues to be developed and explored. Challenges include how to connect the somewhat abstract nature of classroom-based PBL with clinical practice and how to maintain learner engagement in the process of PBL over time.

Objective: A study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of decision-PBL (D-PBL), a variant form of PBL that replaces linear PBL cases with virtual patients.

Decision PBL: A 4-year retrospective case study of the use of virtual patients in problem-based learning.

Background: In 2009, St George's University of London (SGUL) replaced their paper-based problem-based learning (PBL) cases with virtual patients for intermediate-level undergraduate students. This involved the development of Decision-Problem-Based Learning (D-PBL), a variation on progressive-release PBL that uses virtual patients instead of paper cases, and focuses on patient management decisions and their consequences.

Methods: Using a case study method, this paper describes four years of developing and running D-PBL at SGUL from individual activities up to the ways in which D-PBL functioned as an educational system.