Developing a Smartphone App With Augmented Reality to Support Virtual Learning of Nursing Students on Heart Failure

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 16:43:56 +0000

Background

The purpose of this study was to develop an Augmented Reality (AR) app on heart failure for remote training of nursing students and compare it against recorded video lecture. We conducted a quasi-experimental study using pretest-posttest design with junior nursing students.

Methods

The experimental group used the self-paced app; the control group viewed the same content using pre-recorded video lecture.

Results

There were no significant differences in learning, although more students indicated that they preferred the AR app.

Conclusion

As a stand-alone teaching method, AR apps may perform as well as video lectures and may encourage student engagement.

Citation:

Herbert, V. M., Perry, R. J., LeBlanc, C. A., Haase, K. N., Corey, R. R., Giudice, N. A., & Howell, C. (2021). Developing a Smartphone App With Augmented Reality to Support Virtual Learning of Nursing Students on Heart Failure. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 54, 77–85.

Cognitive mapping without vision: Comparing wayfinding performance after learning from digital touchscreen-based multimodal maps vs. embossed tactile overlays

eblackwood — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 15:12:31 +0000

This article starts by discussing the state of the art in accessible interactive maps for use by blind and visually impaired (BVI) people. It then describes a behavioral experiment investigating the efficacy of a new type of low-cost, touchscreen-based multimodal interface, called a vibro-audio map (VAM), for supporting environmental learning, cognitive map development, and wayfinding behavior on the basis of nonvisual sensing. In the study, eight BVI participants learned two floor-maps of university buildings, one using the VAM and the other using an analogous hardcopy tactile map (HTM) overlaid on the touchscreen. They were asked to freely explore each map, with the task of learning the entire layout and finding three hidden target locations. After meeting a learning criterion, participants performed an environmental transfer test, where they were brought to the corresponding physical layout and were asked to plan/navigate routes between learned target locations from memory, i.e., without access to the map used at learning. The results using Bayesian analyses aimed at assessing equivalence showed highly similar target localization accuracy and route efficiency performance between conditions, suggesting that the VAM supports the same level of environmental learning, cognitive map development, and wayfinding performance as is possible from interactive displays using traditional tactile map overlays. These results demonstrate the efficacy of the VAM for supporting complex spatial tasks without vision using a commercially available, low-cost interface and open the door to a new era of mobile interactive maps for spatial learning and wayfinding by BVI navigators.

Keywords: wayfinding without vision, cognitive mapping, haptic displays, accessible digital maps, blind navigation

Citation: Giudice, N.A., Guenther, B.A., Jensen, N.A., & Haase, K.N. (2020). Cognitive mapping without vision: Comparing wayfinding performance after learning from digital touchscreen-based multimodal maps vs. embossed tactile overlays. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 14:87. Doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.00087