The CAMPUS virtual patient system, developed at the University
of Heidelberg, consists of different modules for learning
and assessment with virtual patients (VPs). An easy-to-use
authoring system enables the user to create VPs based on
a controlled vocabulary for medical history, diagnoses, therapies
and physical, laboratory and technical examinations. Using
a vocabulary instead of free-text enables semi-automatic
translations and fast development of VPs. The authoring system
supports different import and export formats like XML,
QTI, SCORM as well as the newly developed eViP format.
Two presentation modules with different didactical approaches
present the VPs to students: The Classic-Player is characterised
by a simulative presentation mode where the student can
choose from a wide variety of examinations and therapies.
This approach perfectly suites for self-study as the student can
feel and act like a real physician. In contrast to this, the Card-
Player follows a card-based presentation mode with a reduced
set of selection possibilities. Virtual patients presented in the
Card-Player are mainly used to prepare for examinations allowing
fast recapitulation of applied knowledge. Both players
support the enrichment of virtual patients through different media
files, interactive images, knowledge questions and expert
comments. Feedback will be given by both players at several
points to synchronize the decisions made by the student and
the author. All user actions are recorded in the database for
formative assessments. For secure, summative assessments
a software was developed which offers a network fault tolerant
client-server-architecture and certainty of law using automatically
generated video files together with the support of keyfeature
and advanced question types like long menu.

Keywords: virtual patients, assessment, vocabulary-based

You may view the article as (a): PDF