{"id":3217,"date":"2020-11-06T14:39:28","date_gmt":"2020-11-06T18:39:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.tlsrv.net\/medical-schools\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T08:44:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T16:44:46","slug":"medical-schools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/medical-schools\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Create Realistic Virtual Learning Environments for Trainees"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>When Covid cancelled a medical school\u2019s in-person workshop, ThingLink provided a way that learners could work with an interactive and realistic scenario to piece together individual data to diagnose and create a patient management plan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Online learning for inter-disciplinary teams<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #14171a;\">As well as offering medicine degrees, University of Central Lancashire School of Medicine <\/span><span style=\"color: #333333;\">runs graduate and postgraduate courses for&nbsp; health professionals, developing their skills and knowledge. Dr <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Abhi Jones is the <\/span><span style=\"color: #14171a;\">Clinical Lead for Interprofessional Education at the School of Medicine and had created a programme for medical students working in inter-disciplinary teams to practise real-world observational and management skills. Her teaching materials had to fulfil two purposes: to <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">teach students about the different professionals that they&#8217;d work with throughout their career, but also to develop their understanding of the different roles and disciplines within medicine such as public health, psychology and sociology.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"hs-embed-wrapper\" style=\"position: relative; overflow: hidden; width: 100%; height: auto; padding: 0px; min-width: 256px; display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 715px; max-height: 406px;\" data-service=\"cdn.thinglink\" data-script-embed=\"true\">\n<div class=\"hs-embed-content-wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/mediacard\/1357704324825743363\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-original-width=\"640\" data-original-height=\"360\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"tl-cta-block\"><h3>Meet a product expert<\/h3><p>If you\u2019d like to learn more about what ThingLink can offer to your organisation, you can schedule an online meeting with one of our product experts below.<\/p><button class=\"tl-button tl-button--white tl-button--small tl-cta-block__button\" data-link=\"https:\/\/enterprise.thinglink.com\/demo-dee\/\">Meet an Expert<\/button><\/section>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Focus on Frailty<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Frailty is a condition that is increasingly becoming a hot topic in medicine. In part that\u2019s due to the overall ageing of our populations, with many people becoming frail as they age &#8211; although it occurs in the young too. Regardless of age, it usually aggravates otherwise minor ailments, so is an important consideration in medicine. Abhi and her colleagues had planned an inter-professional event to focus on a typical scenario where frailty was a key factor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Health care students across seven different disciplines were to take part &#8211; representing medicine, pharmacy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, paramedics, social work and Physician Associates. In real life situations, doctors work together with these professions to create a joint patient management plan. A live training event was planned for 345 attendees, but cancelled due to Covid restrictions. So Abhi and her team had to find a way to bring a realistic scenario to life online.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The course had been designed to develop observational as well as management skills. Students would be required to add the visual clues provided in the course materials to their prior knowledge of the patient, building up a picture of the patient\u2019s situation and deciding on the best course of action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/f.hubspotusercontent30.net\/hubfs\/603436\/OAT6bpDb_400x400.jpg\" alt=\"OAT6bpDb_400x400\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p><em>\u201cHealth professionals need to be able to look carefully &#8211; it&#8217;s a difficult skill to learn, we needed a very visual tool which could realistically reproduce a real-life home visit&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<cite>Dr Abhilasha Jones<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Creating the interactive scenario<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Abhi\u2019s scenario was based around a fictional patient who suffered from frailty and had fallen at home. \u201cFlorence Williamson\u201d was an elderly black lady isolating in her house; her family normally provided daily help, but they were unable to under Covid restrictions. Unable to source any photographs of this exact scenario, Abhi staged and photographed a setting using a 360 camera, which would form the basis of her ThingLink.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each disciplinary team in a scenario like this would enter the room armed with prior information &#8211; to which the other health teams wouldn\u2019t be party. To reflect this, Abhi ingeniously cloned one ThingLink of her \u201chome setting\u201d image five times, and added different relevant information in each of the five separate versions. Within the scene itself, she had also placed various signs and indicators for all the teams to spot. For example a walking frame used for storage rather than for walking; bags of shopping left unpacked; medicines still in their packaging. Abhi then added various types of tag, including an audio file of a telephone call between the paramedic and GP, medical notes and images.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Piecing their combined information, insights and conclusions together in real-time, the thirty multidisciplinary teams then each were tasked with producing a management plan for Florence, each plan co-created with Padlet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A powerful training tool&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As Abhi says <em>\u201cIt&#8217;s so important to get teams to look at patient safety &#8211; and to say what they can see. We needed to create a real world picture\u201d<\/em>. The ability to present a 360 image of a patient\u2019s home, with visual clues and rich media tags included, gave the most realistic online representation of the patient environment when in-person training was impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What\u2019s next?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Abhi believes that learning resources don\u2019t need to follow traditional didactic models to be effective, and has been using ThingLink in new and innovative ways to create really inspiring training materials and virtual training environments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/med-escaperoom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Her next project was an escape room with ThingLink<\/a>. A clinical environment was created, with a simulated patient and all the equipment that students might require will be placed in \u201clocked boxes\u201d. These can only be opened by solving puzzles and answering questions which are embedded in the tags. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Necessity is the mother of invention<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p><em>\u201cFace-to-face tuition remains a vital element of our medical programmes but the application of new technology is delivering real innovation in the curriculum and providing our students with a fantastic learning experience.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n<cite>Dr Abhi Jones<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/h-w64t3NNMY?t=571\" target=\"_blank\">Listen to Dr Abhi Jones<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\"> explain more about the example in our Higher Education Webinar from the 5th November 2020 <\/span><a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/h-w64t3NNMY?t=571\" target=\"_blank\">here.<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">&nbsp;<\/span>Watch all our webinars and tutorials on our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@ThingLink_EDU\">ThingLink YouTube<\/a> channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A VLE is considered to be any online learning space where the learner interacts with the course content or information in a similar way in which they would do in real life. ThingLink is increasingly the platform of choice for creating interactive learning environments given its ease of use and versatility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Creating immersive content for VLEs without a 360 camera<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It is now easier than ever to create 360-degree, immersive photospheres like the ones in Abhi&#8217;s scenario, with the launch of <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/en-us\/pano-to-360\" target=\"_blank\">Pano to 360 by ThingLink<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pano to 360 is a completely free tool which allows anyone (no registration or account required) to upload a panoramic photo taken on any device, which will then be converted instantly to a 360 photosphere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"tl-cta-block\"><h3>Try Pano to 360 for yourself!<\/h3><p>Instantly convert any panoramic photo from your phone to a 360 scene! <\/p><button class=\"tl-button tl-button--white tl-button--small tl-cta-block__button\" data-link=\"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/en-us\/pano-to-360\">try it now <\/button><\/section>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to share your ThingLink learning content<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Because ThingLink is web-based learning platform, its learning content can be shared in a number of different ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Made accessible on any device (including mobile devices), on demand, to be completed at the learners own pace, as an elearning lesson, course or module. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shared as a VR link for experiencing on VR headsets<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It can be completed remotely by a number of participants working together (as in Abhi&#8217;s example), shared via Zoom, Teams, Google Meet or another video conferencing platform. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Alternatively, it can be integrated into any LMS (learning management system) for secure sign on, authentication and tracking of learner progress and completion via inbuilt statistics.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">For more inspiration, see these featured case studies and blogs below:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/using-thinglink-to-develop-virtual-team-building-activities-for-nursing-students\/\" target=\"_blank\">See this example from Huddersfield University based on a murder mystery game!<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/karelia\/\" target=\"_blank\">Get students engaged in online learning: Lessons from Finland<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/university-post-grad-field-trips-move-online\/\" target=\"_blank\">Virtual Field Trips: Award-winning virtual field trips created in ThingLink by Queens University Belfast, which result in student success that rivalled in-person learning<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/thinglink-evidence-of-impact\/\" target=\"_blank\">Virtual Labs from Keele University<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/immersive-virtual-experience-tells-villagers-stories-of-1665-plague\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Eyam-Case-Study-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Immersive Virtual Experience Tells Villagers\u2019 Stories of 1665 Plague\" class=\"wp-image-10146\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Eyam-Case-Study-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Eyam-Case-Study-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Eyam-Case-Study-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Eyam-Case-Study-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Eyam-Case-Study-576x324.jpg 576w, https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Eyam-Case-Study.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Immersive Virtual Experience Tells Villagers\u2019 Stories of 1665 Plague<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Join the conversation!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We have a number of social media communities, forums and groups you can join to see other inspirational examples in action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/thinglink\" target=\"_blank\">ThingLink LinkedIn Page<\/a>&nbsp;| <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/groups\/9054683\/\" target=\"_blank\">LinkedIn Community<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ThingLink\" target=\"_blank\">X \/ Twitter ThingLink Page<\/a>&nbsp;| <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ThingLink_EDU\" target=\"_blank\">X \/ Twitter ThingLink Edu Page<\/a> | <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/i\/communities\/1670006007819280385\" target=\"_blank\">X \/ Twitter Creative Learning Design Community<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/ThingLinkEducation\" target=\"_blank\">ThingLink Education Facebook Group<\/a> | <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ThingLink\" target=\"_blank\">ThingLink Facebook Page&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"tl-cta-block\"><h3>Start creating interactive content today<\/h3><p>To see just how easy it is to create interactive, immersive content with ThingLink, start a free trial today!<\/p><button class=\"tl-button tl-button--white tl-button--small tl-cta-block__button\" data-link=\"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\">get started here<\/button><\/section>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When Covid cancelled a medical school\u2019s in-person workshop, ThingLink provided a way that learners could work with an interactive and realistic scenario to piece&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":13056,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[477,564,594,570],"tags":[181,179,180,238,267,343,345,595,255,344],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3217"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3217"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3217\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13057,"href":"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3217\/revisions\/13057"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13056"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3217"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3217"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3217"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}