Abstract:

This paper focuses on the experiences of international cooperation in the technical development of an innovative smartphone app designed as part of a multi-national Erasmus+ project to support clinical skills training for nursing students.

Background:
The DigiSim project is a tripartite partnership between the University of Stavanger (UoS), the Catholic University of Valencia (UCV) and the University of Nottingham (UoN). The DigiSim project provides a mobile app freely available to nursing students. The app will include 10 clinical skills topics and contain checklists, equipment lists, audio instructions, video demonstrations for nursing procedures in three different languages. Since the audio instructions are meant to be followed step-by-step, the plan is to make it possible to interact with the audio controls without touching the device in order to maintain sterile procedures while practicing.

There are numerous technical challenges involved when developing digital learning tools across countries. For instance, standardization of video production methods are key, as it helps promote the projects visual identity

Method:
In order to ensure s standardized video production method, the following characteristics were implemented by all partners:
• a written script (blue-print), including a text-description of each scene
• the shooting of sequential clips
• dynamic and informative framing
• close-up shots emphasizing important information
• the use of tripods and lighting
• use of good quality microphones to improve the sound
• the standardization of fonts and colours throughout the video
• all required clinical equipment to be listed in text and filmed at start of each video
• realistic locations used such as clinical skills areas

The video quality standards included comprehensive guidance on video production and post production methods such as:
• video resolution and lens aspect ratio settings
• lighting and audio equipment best practices
• consent forms for all performers

Copyright regulation:
The DigiSim app is developed using the Ionic framework and runs on both IOS and Android platforms. The app will synchronise with a JSON file on a local webserver to see if any updates exists, and update itself if necessary. The app will ask for permission to download the required files using the mobile network if not connected to WiFi. With this approach, changes or updates can quickly and easily be applied to the students. Several APIs for accessing network state, file handling and storage etc. on the device will be used in this update process.
A demonstration video was produced and used as an exemplar by all teams. The implementation of standard will ensure that all content video produced by the partners will run successfully when imported into the app.

Discussion and conclusion:
Students have provided us with valuable feedback in the process, for instance, the value of having the opportunity to slow and speed up the video content.
Our main challenge so far has been to develop a hands free media-controlling app. Different hardware devices use different sensors and the solution we have reached at this point is to customize each using platform-specific APIs.
The DigiSim team are keen to review the apps performance after release. Therefor we will use Google analytics to allow for richer learner tracking and understanding of how the app is being used.

Keywords:

App development, video production.