Wessex Bay & IPE Andy Pulman, Web Team Leader, School of Health & Social Care (HSC), Bournemouth University / “Increasingly video games are being recognised as a powerful tool for learning. Yes of course they are entertaining and a lot of fun, but they’ve also the ability to inspire and motivate. They hold out the tantalising prospect of personalised, responsive and thoroughly enjoyable learning experiences, irrespective of age, or our ability” Lord Puttnam (ELSPA, 2006)

Interprofessional education (IPE) for a diversity of professions HSC is developing collaborative learning opportunities for students preparing to be: –Nurses –Midwives –Occupational therapists –Physiotherapists –Operating department practitioners –Social workers

Rationale for interprofessional education for HSC Students To encourage collaborative learning between professional groups To develop effective team working within inter-professional scenarios To enhance communication between professional groups To help improve the quality of care delivery for service users and carers

Challenges Moving beyond shared teaching to collaborative learning Providing parity of learning experience for large student numbers (n=600+) unevenly spread between disciplines and across wide geographical area with students located in academic centres at Bournemouth, Yeovil and Portsmouth Supporting staff in adapting and changing learning & teaching practices

Blended Learning Solution Web based ‘simulated community’ peopled by health & social care users, living and working in a typical seaside community in a variety of urban and Rural settings. The e-learning components consist of: Practice situated individuals as ‘live’ and changing learning resources. Case scenarios developed by health & social care practitioners & service users for analysis and problem solving. Discussion boards and chat rooms for sharing and debating Interprofessional perspectives on case scenarios, new episodes and client bulletin updates & for engaging in role plays. Additional learning resources including professional codes of conduct, legislation, professional standard and policy documents.

Timeline : Development / Testing –June 04 - Iteration 1 –July 04 - Iteration 2 –September 04 - Iteration 3 –April 05 - Iteration 4 –August 05 - Iteration 5 September 05 : Wessex Bay Goes Live October 05 : PAD Unit Begins January 06 : Communication/PfPP Units Begin April 06 – December 07 : HEA Evaluation January 08 : Report Submitted To HEA

Preparing Students for collaborative learning with different professions Personal & Academic Development (PAD) unit provides students working in uniprofessional groups with foundation in learning to Learn: e-learning & IT skills information literacy & study skills critical thinking & reflecting on practice In preparation for working collaboratively in IPE groups through two Level C units running concurrently, in: Preparation for professional practice Communication Delivery is by means of blended learning with face-to-face & online Learning activities supported by the Simulated Community (Wessex Bay) & Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

Preparing and Supporting Staff Open Access Workshops –Themed Workshops Designing a blended learning unit Encouraging active online learning Using e-quizzes in assessing learning –VLE Basics –Taster Days Demonstrating Wessex Bay / VLE Engaging in asynchronous online discussion & synchronous online role plays Targeted group sessions for IPE & PAD teams 1: 1 small group surgeries Online course areas & discussion boards for staff training/collaboration

Promoting and embedding developments in the Schools Strategy Presentations to senior management on blended learning and Wessex Bay Establishment of steering groups for Wessex Bay and flexible learning for developers & other interested staff in HSC Integration with Research team (eg: Centre for Qualitative Research) Promotion through HSC 4U staff intranet (eg: town name)

Evaluation : Staff Healthy scepticism on the value of e-learning compared with face-to- face classroom based sessions Balancing the resource constraints of study hours available for uniprofessional and interprofessional study Preparedness for blended learning Taking ownership of Wessex Bay & VLE course areas Benefits & challenges of working with & learning from colleagues located in different professions: “But I have no idea how a midwife or social worker would interpret this case” (staff comment shared in IPE Curriculum Planning Meeting)

Evaluation : Students The IPE curriculum commenced in September 2005 Student data was collected during this academic year by pre- experience questionnaires & interim & post experience focus groups Evaluation assessed findings against the intended outcomes of: –facilitating realistic student enquiry in a virtual practice community –providing effective collaborative learning within a safe but challenging practice environment

Future : Within HSC Further development ? –Public health needs report –Counter fraud and security management –Lifestyle redesign unit for OT 3D Simulations : Infection Control / Day Surgery Nurse – Laparoscopic Hernia Repair / Childrens Nurse Patient Journies - Lifeworld – The Carer’s World Alzheimers project Further use of Wessex Bay outside of IPE curriculum (eg: Diabetes)

Future: Within BU Services Management – Virtual Sports Centre Conservation Science - Oil Spill Simulation Link Up / DCC Possible Disaster Management Centre Link Up Collaborative Research Bids

Future : External External University Link Ups DIPEx - Patient Experiences of health and illness Virtual Europe (COHEHRE) HSC in Second Life End Of Part 1