XR in Healthcare Education and Clinical Practice from Coursera

This course is designed to teach you about Extended Reality (XR) and how it's used in healthcare education and clinical practice. Using lessons from experts in the field and different case studies, this course shows you how to use this innovative technology in a way that creates sustainable, accessible real-world applications.

The course considers Extended Reality (XR) from a number of perspectives. First of all, you will learn about the hardware and software considerations, then focus on education structures and frameworks and how Extended Reality is applied appropriately within this context. The final two weeks demonstrate how XR has been applied in real-world clinical practice and how you can best make use of the technology by understanding the impact of interdisciplinary expertise in the field.

Overall, this course will help you to advance your use of Extended Reality, whatever your background, in clinical training and technologically-enhanced healthcare education contexts. You will also have the optional pathway of developing a business case alongside fellow learners. The business case can be the first step in promoting your XR idea or project to different stakeholders.

What's inside

Syllabus

Getting Started with Extended Reality (XR)

This week you will explore the fundamentals of Extended Reality and simulation. The important distinctions between Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality will be highlighted. By the end of the week, you will be better placed to consider various XR devices based on specifications and capabilities and how these will potentially support your use of the technology within healthcare.

XR Design for Healthcare Education

Using Extended Reality to enhance learning experience can be achieved by exploring educational considerations and the impact of XR on information retention, cognitive load, inclusion, diversity and accessibility. You may not have formal training in education, however, what is important is to recognise your strengths and limitations. By studying this week’s materials, you will identify the importance of including expert educationalists in your team. This knowledge will help build your business case. Important questions to ask are: What is the problem you are trying to solve or improve? Who are your users and what are their needs? How does technology enhance their learning experience?

XR Design for Clinical Practice

This week you will explore how Extended Reality can be used in clinical practice. Focus on the lessons learnt by the experts as they discuss various challenges and successes of using XR. From these lessons identify how you will shape your use of XR and potentially integrate these ideas into your business case.

Planning the Application of XR

With your new understanding of Extended Reality in healthcare, it is important to explore the real world translation of this innovation. A business case helps provide rationale for implementing a project or new programme effectively. It is a strong approach to justifying application of Extended Reality to medical education or clinical practice. This week focuses on practical concepts and developmental steps. Expert contributors will contribute different 'lessons learnt' from their XR experience and will give succinct descriptions of the tools/software and phases used in the process of building a XR development. This last week of the course ends with a non-assessed business case exercise and leads to the final graded quiz.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores Extended Reality technology and its applications in healthcare education and clinical practice

Taught by experts in the field of Extended Reality in healthcare

Provides lessons learnt by experts in the XR field to shape your use of XR

Develops an optional business case alongside fellow learners to promote XR ideas or projects

Builds a foundation for beginners in Extended Reality

Develops professional skills and deep expertise in Extended Reality in healthcare

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in XR in Healthcare Education and Clinical Practice with these activities:

Review principles of XR

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Refresh your understanding of the core concepts of XR, VR, AR, and MR to enhance your ability to actively participate and retain new knowledge throughout the course.

Browse courses on Extended Reality

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Revise basic definitions and characteristics of each type of XR technology
Explore real-world applications of XR in various domains, particularly in healthcare
Identify potential challenges and ethical considerations in implementing XR solutions

Explore XR software and tools

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Enhance your understanding of XR by exploring different software and tools. This will enable you to select the right tools for your projects and deepen your practical knowledge.

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Identify the most popular software and tools used for XR development
Follow online tutorials or documentation to learn the basics of these tools
Experiment with sample projects or create your own prototype using these tools

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Career center

Learners who complete XR in Healthcare Education and Clinical Practice will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Medical XR Developer

Medical XR Developers design and develop XR applications for healthcare settings. This course can teach you the fundamentals of XR, including the different types of XR devices and how to use them to create healthcare applications. This knowledge could be valuable for Medical XR Developers who want to develop more innovative and effective healthcare applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Medical XR Developer

Medical Simulation Specialist

Medical Simulation Specialists design, develop, and implement simulation-based training programs for healthcare professionals. This course can teach you the basics of XR, including how to use it to create and deliver immersive training experiences. This knowledge could be valuable for Medical Simulation Specialists who want to develop more effective and engaging training programs.

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Augmented Reality Surgeon

Augmented Reality Surgeons use AR to improve the accuracy and efficiency of their surgeries. This course can teach you how to use AR to create immersive and informative experiences, which could be valuable for Augmented Reality Surgeons who want to improve the quality of their care.

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Virtual Reality Therapist

Virtual Reality Therapists use VR to help patients with a variety of mental health conditions. This course can teach you how to use VR to create immersive and therapeutic experiences, which could be valuable for Virtual Reality Therapists who want to improve the quality of their care.

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Healthcare Project Manager

Healthcare Project Managers plan and execute healthcare projects. This course can teach you how to use XR to create immersive and interactive project plans, which could be valuable for Healthcare Project Managers who want to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their projects.

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Healthcare Educator

Healthcare Educators develop and deliver educational programs for healthcare professionals. This course can teach you how to use XR to create immersive and engaging learning experiences, which could be valuable for Healthcare Educators who want to improve the quality of their educational programs.

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Medical Device Designer

Medical Device Designers design and develop medical devices. This course can teach you how to use XR to create prototypes and test devices, which could be valuable for Medical Device Designers who want to develop better and more innovative medical devices.

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Rehabilitation Specialist

Rehabilitation Specialists help patients recover from injuries or illnesses. This course can teach you how to use XR to create personalized rehabilitation plans and track patient progress, which could be valuable for Rehabilitation Specialists who want to improve the quality of their care.

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Clinical Research Coordinator

Clinical Research Coordinators manage and conduct clinical research studies. This course can teach you how to use XR to collect and analyze data, which could be valuable for Clinical Research Coordinators who want to improve the efficiency and accuracy of their research studies.

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Healthcare Marketing Manager

Healthcare Marketing Managers develop and implement marketing campaigns for healthcare products and services. This course can teach you how to use XR to create engaging and informative marketing materials, which could be valuable for Healthcare Marketing Managers who want to reach their target audience more effectively.

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Healthcare Data Analyst

Healthcare Data Analysts collect and analyze data to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare. This course can teach you how to use XR to visualize and interpret data, which could be valuable for Healthcare Data Analysts who want to provide better insights to their clients.

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Healthcare Consultant

Healthcare Consultants advise healthcare organizations on how to improve their operations. This course can teach you how to use XR to analyze data and develop innovative solutions, which could be valuable for Healthcare Consultants who want to provide better advice to their clients.

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Medical Writer

Medical Writers develop and write medical content for a variety of audiences. This course can teach you how to use XR to create engaging and informative medical content, which could be valuable for Medical Writers who want to improve the quality of their writing.

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Patient Care Technician

Patient Care Technicians provide basic care to patients in a variety of healthcare settings. This course can teach you how to use XR to improve communication and collaboration with patients and their families, which could be valuable for Patient Care Technicians who want to provide better care to their patients.

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Health Policy Analyst

Health Policy Analysts analyze health policy and make recommendations for improvement. This course can teach you how to use XR to create immersive and engaging presentations, which could be valuable for Health Policy Analysts who want to communicate their findings more effectively.

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