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Updated: Jun 6, 2026
07:29
Online Explorative Study on the Learning Uses of Virtual Reality Among Early Adopters
Published on: November 22, 2019
Initial evaluation of Stilwell: a multimedia virtual community
1University of Cumbria, Carlisle, UK. mh.walsh@cumbria.ac.uk
Nurse Education in Practice
|November 13, 2010
Summary
Narrative pedagogy, a novel educational approach, enhances health professional training. A virtual community, Stilwell, facilitated realistic learning, fostering theory-practice integration and emotional engagement among students.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Health Professions Education
- Pedagogy
Background:
- Narrative pedagogy is an emerging educational approach focusing on meaning-making, multiple perspectives, and emotional content in healthcare.
- Conventional education often lacks these elements, highlighting a need for innovative teaching methods.
- There is limited evaluative research on the impact of narrative pedagogy in health professions education.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a novel narrative pedagogy-based virtual practicum, Stilwell, on health professional student learning experiences.
- To assess how a realistic, multimedia-driven narrative influences the integration of theory and practice.
- To explore student emotional engagement and its effect on learning activities.
Main Methods:
- Development of Stilwell, a realistic multimedia narrative featuring 60 characters in a virtual community.
- Focus group evaluation of student learning experiences with the Stilwell virtual practicum.
- Qualitative analysis of student feedback regarding learning, engagement, and challenges.
Main Results:
- Students reported Stilwell as a unique learning method, effectively bridging theory and practice.
- The realism of Stilwell elicited significant emotional involvement with characters.
- This emotional engagement led to novel and substantial learning activities.
- Students found the approach challenging yet highly beneficial for understanding healthcare contexts.
Conclusions:
- Narrative pedagogy, exemplified by Stilwell, offers a powerful complementary approach to traditional health professions education.
- Realistic virtual environments can foster deep learning and emotional connection, enhancing educational outcomes.
- Ongoing student feedback is crucial for refining and improving narrative-based learning tools.
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