Immersive Learning for Medicine using Augmented Reality with iPads

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic crisis has resulted in educational institutions across the world being pressured to revamp their teaching and learning practices, as well as to utilize the available technological tools to create content for remote learning. Medical education, on the other hand, requires a learning approach that is more appropriate with the program structure and technological advancements. In the medical domain, approaches as Augmented Reality (AR) could revolutionize the way to teach and train medical students. AR can be used in training for complex physiological systems to provide the medical students experience much closer to real-life, developing adaptive expertise and acquiring collaborative skills. AR technology could help physicians and surgeons-to-be learn about the latest methods and tools in their areas, as well as refining and encouraging their knowledge retention. In this capacity, AR is more than just a learning approach. Learning in the medical domain is usually situated in a real-life context. In other words, training in this real-life context is not always possible. AR learning environments potentially offer a meaningful situated learning experience that may enable the transfer of learning into the professional context. Previous studies were performed primarily into the development, usability, and initial implementation of AR learning environments. As such, this study was aimed to develop and evaluate an immersive learning environment for medical students using AR. The study applied the design and development research approach that involved three stages: (i) analysis; (ii) design and development; (iii) implementation and evaluation. This study described how AR enhanced the experiences of medical students, by improving understanding and knowledge, as well as practical and social skills. These elements were discussed within the context of AR in immersive medical education, which were action, performance, competency, and knowledge. Moreover, these elements were used to develop the final immersive learning environment for medical education using AR. Finally, this study also discussed the challenges of AR in teaching and learning, and proposed future directions for the use of this technology in revolutionizing medical education.