Training Scientific Communication Skills on Medical Imaging within the Virtual World Second Life: Perception of Biomedical Engineering Students

Andrés Lozano-Durán, Teodoro Rudolphi-Solero, Enrique Nava-Baro, Miguel José Ruiz-Gómez and Francisco Sendra-Portero ()
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Andrés Lozano-Durán: Communications Engineering Department, Higher Technical School of Computer Engineering, University of Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain
Teodoro Rudolphi-Solero: Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain
Enrique Nava-Baro: Communications Engineering Department, Higher Technical School of Computer Engineering, University of Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain
Miguel José Ruiz-Gómez: Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain
Francisco Sendra-Portero: Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 3, 1-16

Abstract: Second Life is a multi-user virtual world platform which enables online learning through immersive activities. This study evaluates the perception of third-year biomedical engineering students about learning activities complementary to a biomedical imaging course carried out within Second Life and focused on training in the public presentation of scientific content to their peers. Between 2015 and 2017, students gave oral presentations on medical imaging topics selected from the proposals of their classmates. Participants were invited to complete an evaluation questionnaire. In the three years of the study, 133 students enrolled in the course (48, 46, and 39 consecutively), and 97 of them delivered the questionnaire (48%, 83%, and 92%, consecutively). Attendance at the sessions ranged between 88% and 44%. The students positively value the experiences, especially the teacher, the educational content, and the virtual island environment, with mean scores greater than or equal to 8.4, 7.7, and 7.7, respectively, on a 1–10-point scale. Overall, they valued Second Life as an attractive and suitable environment for their training in science communication skills, in which they gain self-confidence and are less afraid of speaking in public. Second Life enables students to present scientific content effectively to their peers, receiving hands-on training in the tasks of collecting, organizing, and presenting data, with the benefits of remote access, collaborative work, and social interaction.

Keywords: online learning; virtual worlds; biomedical engineering; undergraduate education; radiology; medical imaging (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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