Cardiff Player Video Hosting

Cardiff Player is a new dedicated streaming-media server available for uploading and hosting video content at Cardiff University. The server is powered by Helix Media Library, a system which batch-encodes different video formats to H.264, which is supported by HTML5. The resulting upload is then assigned with a unique link, which can then be distributed as desired to a range of platforms, for example, Learning Central.

Second-Phase Virtual Patient Literature Review

We are returning focus to case-based online content and how 'virtual patient' encounters may be developed and integrated into curriculum. A comprehensive review was undertaken a few years ago and revealed how a number of national and international medical schools were making use of various virtual patient authoring tools available at the time. The study brought a number of pedagogic principals to light and suggested a basis on which to develop a system. The full review can be accessed here.

However, the perceivable changes in the development of software and devices since then have given cause to re-evaluate how case-based online resources are being developed and delivered. For example, the advent of HTML5 and increasing use of smartphones may have dictated some degree of change in approach to development and deployment of content.

A new review will firstly conduct a review of widely used authoring systems and the gathering of information relating to the success of their use within various settings across different medical education institutions. If you have any thoughts or experience of the implementation of current clinical scenario-based study resources, then please do comment and share.

School of Medicine E-Learning Team