Transcript Slide 1

Fast Cheap and Easy: Using
Second Life for Simulating
Safety Critical Operations in
the Undergraduate Curriculum
E. Andrew Kapp PhD, CSP, CHMM, REM
Department of Occupational and Environmental Safety & Health
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Introduction
• Simulation software is NOT
fast, cheap or easy to use
• But simulations provide
powerful teaching tools
• Can simulations of safety
critical operations be
effectively done with Second
Life ?
About Second Life
• User created, interactive, 3-D,web based
virtual world
• Participants interact with each other and the
environment their virtual “selves” known as
Avatars
• The primary use of Second Life is social,
and the types of interactions run the gamut
from the educational to the lurid
About the Simulation
• Task: Enter recently emptied above ground petroleum
storage tank to retrieve a defective sensor.
• Potential Hazards: Lack of oxygen, H2S, Flammable
atmosphere
• Tools: Hard hat, lighting, personal 4 gas detector, forced
air ventilation, Permit Space permit
• No ability to flush or purge the tank
• Assistance:
• Attendant measures pre-entry conditions in space,
monitors entrant and can call for rescue if necessary
• Supervisor authorizes/cancels entry via permit signature
The Simulation
• Learning Objective: Using an entry permit
students will be able to identify hazards of a
permit space and implement the appropriate
protective measures to conduct a safe entry
• The Simulation
Results: Attempts
•
•
•
•
22 Students
Range: 2 -22
Mean: 6.6
Std. Dev: 4.8
Results: Permit Score
• 22 Students
completed
• Range: 0 - 4
• Mean: 2.9
• Std. Dev: 1.4
Frequency
Results: Student Feedback on
Quality of the Learning
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Second Life I was engaged in Second Life
helped me
the learning
allowed me to
understand the experience in
better
course material Second Life
understand
concepts
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Strongly Agree
Results: Student Feedback
• In what ways did this simulation help you
understand the importance and methods of
evaluating the hazards associated with Permit
Required Confined Spaces?
• It helped me to realize that even if a space seems safe, it
can quickly become dangerous.
• Help me understand what equipments needs to be used
and the process that goes through with entering a
permit required space.
Results: Student Feedback
• In what ways did this simulation help you
understand the importance and methods of
evaluating the hazards associated with Permit
Required Confined Spaces?
• It didn't. It had no real life applicable parts. "go in and
grab a sensor before it blows up", horrible scenario. I
didn't get anything out of it besides frustration and
wanting to never use it again.
• it didn’t
Conclusion
• But did they learn anything?
• They think so… most of them, for the most part
• I remain unsure
Conclusion
• Did I learn anything?
• Unavoidability of the logic system
• Must integrate practice with Second Life into
class prior to any graded exercise
• Will I continue with this simulation and/or
other uses of Second Life
• Yes, as long as I have the technical assistance
available