Huddle Street - A virtual learning environment (VLE) for integrated interprofessional working within a healthcare setting

Huddle Street is a 2D virtual street that will act as the interface for new and existing e-learning materials, digital resources, case studies etc. for health care students from different professions. The Street will support the diversity of the forthcoming new curriculum for nurse education at a university in the north of England and its integration with other professions by providing students and all professions with access to the virtual environment and its occupants. The environment, lives, social and healthcare needs of the street’s occupants will provide a context and shared focus for different professions. Academics will be able to add materials and expand the system over time and evolve the individual profiles and stories of the street’s occupants and the system should recognise and reward students who engage with the virtual inhabitants appropriately. Although this is essentially a simple concept it offers the potential to create a very rich and engaging teaching space. The development of Huddle Street as a completed product is taking a staged approach. Initially we propose to demonstrate proof of concept and provide a detailed design scheme for the street. The authors would like to present at this conference the motivation and context of the development of Huddle Street and would like to present initial development findings and products of this VLE. The authors also report on the research findings from a collaborative focus group held to gain insight and knowledge from all professions, user carers and practitioners who could envisage using such a VLE.