Monday, November 2, 2009
Virtual Reality in Education or Professions
In Chapter 12, Terri Patkin discusses the possibilities of using virtual reality to aid in teaching and the educational process. I believe there are some good oppurtunities and practical uses for such an idea. But what is overlooked is that it shouldn't be enough to just use virtual reality. The idea that practicing surgeons or pilots use a simulator for their area of expertise is understandable and maybe even good. But a pilot can land a simulator doesn't mean he or she can land a real plane. Similarly, a virtual surgery is very different from having a real person in front of you. What if having the simulators and virtual aids remove responsibility or a feeling of care for those practicing it in. If a resident physician, after using a simulator loses even the least bit of understanding what a small mistake can do to a real person, that becomes very dangerous. My point isn't that I believe everyone plans on using just virtual practices, the point is that people can't lose understand that the real practice is what's most important and vital.
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I agree with this post, especially in relation to things where someone's life is in your hands. There are many things that can go wrong during a virtual surgery or flight just like a normal flight. If an unplanned emergency happens, say the patient starts to have rapid blood loss, will the machinery in place off-site be able to handle the situation without the surgeon present? Maybe. Maybe not. On the other hand, for microscopic procedures virtual simulation may be very useful and, if the technology is proficient, extremely precise.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with what you are saying here. It is both about the intellectual learning of virtual reality, as well as the hands on experience that many crave. The real experience is necessary and cannot be over looked. Though virtual reality may be going, we cannot forget the practices that have been used for many years without fail.
ReplyDeleteGood points all around. I think we need to draw on the best of both worlds, at least ideally.
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