Repurposing cardiology to psychiatry sessions in a 3D based virtual learning environment

Recent technological developments concerning Web 2.0 have enabled the use of three-dimensional virtual platforms for educational purposes. In this paper, focus is placed on the modification of an OpenSimulator based 3D environment for its reuse in a different field of medical education; developments are presented alongside the associated effort to reconstruct and repurpose this environment so as to fit medical specialties of different clinical skills. The aim of this study was to present repurposing aspects of a learning environment modification and adaption to the needs of various medical specialties, in an attempt to reuse- and therefore share- learning content between different medical areas. Initially, a 3-Dimensional environment was created using the OpenSim platform for use in cardiology. Then, the virtual environment was modified so as to be oriented to the needs of psychiatry. The reconstruction of the educational environment and context and the reformation of the educational clinical scenario offer the possibility of reusability of this content which can be tailored to the needs of each medical field.