Using 'WoundCare' To Learn.

This paper reports on the development and evaluation of "WoundCare: an Interactive Learning Program for Health Professionals" (trial version). The major goal of this project was to develop an interactive multimedia application that could be used by student nurses to enhance learning related to the assessment and treatment of people with wounds of various types. Specifically, the project aimed to develop an interactive multimedia application that could reduce the impact of problems associated with traditional methods typically used when teaching student nurses how to assess and treat people with wounds. A key issue examined in this paper is the extent to which the learning activities incorporated in educational multimedia, such as WoundCare, promote deep rather than surface learning. Specific design features thought to facilitate and inhibit deep learning are identified. Modifications that could increase the learning effectiveness of WoundCare and other interactive multimedia programs are proposed. (Contains 12 references.) (AEF)