The development of advanced teaching tools using simulation is
costly and often of limited value to the institution developing
it. The investment can only be regained if the teaching tool can
be used in other places and/or a wide range of applications.
Thus the objective is to assess the usefulness of an advanced
teaching tool in a range of settings and cultures. Zinc Violet
is a simulation of a problem using real data and data analysis
software, characters, reports, literature, role-play and
financial or time limitations. The students are placed in a
problem that they have to solve where their choices have
consequences and the simulations aims to engage them. The
programme has a long history of development in two countries and
is based on real investigations. All uses of the teaching tool
have been formally evaluated in the context of use. Zinc Violet
has been used to teach applied epidemiology in three different
Masters degrees at three different universities in two different
countries. It has also been use