Ease of use
In the past, authoring virtual patient cases using a branched narrative approach could be a difficult, time-consuming and tedious task. Even now, many general-purpose eLearning tools make them tough to create—and nearly impossible to test, maintain or repurpose. While linear virtual patients are easier to create and maintain, they do not provide the value of a branched narrative approach, which offers multiple decision points that allow the case to unfold based on the learner’s decisions. Each learner can have a different experience with the case.
From the outset, our goal has been to design a platform that makes it easy and intuitive for educators to author their own virtual cases based on their experiences.
That’s why DecisionSim offers a simple drag-and-drop authoring environment. Educators design their own virtual cases with a storyboard interface. There’s no need for instructional technologists or programmers. Using straightforward and customizable templates, authors can quickly create, edit or repurpose their own cases from start to finish—design, creation, delivery and maintenance.
Furthermore, our platform allows authors to create a variety of case structures, from simple pathways to complex branched narrative scenarios. They can include a wide range of decision and assessment options, including multiple-choice questions, and support multimedia for images, audio, video and digital files.
Interactive, graphical “node maps” help authors chart case pathways and branches, and case details are entered using simple web forms. DecisionSim supports the MedBiquitous Virtual Patient (MVP) standard so that cases from other systems can be imported and repurposed without difficulty.
DecisionSim gives authors full control over the content and flow of their cases. Counters, scores and rules can be used to change the flow of a case or to direct a learner to adaptive feedback. The platform’s robust reporting features help authors continually improve case design and pinpoint learning needs.