Shifting to Delivering Simulation Virtually Within a Healthcare Education Setting

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Virtual Learning Modalities
• Simulation-Based Learning

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a rapid shift to virtual modalities in healthcare education.
• Various virtual approaches have emerged, each with unique advantages and limitations.
• Selecting the optimal approach requires careful consideration of learning goals and outcomes.

Discussion:

• Virtual simulations, especially those using simulated persons, offer versatile applications for cognitive, affective, and behavioral skill development.
• This modality supports both synchronous and asynchronous learning experiences.
• Virtual simulations can adapt existing performance indicators from in-person training for effective evaluation.

Key Insights:

• Research favors virtual modalities focusing on cognitive, affective, and behavioral skill acquisition over purely technical skills.
• Simulated persons provide diverse opportunities for experiential learning in virtual healthcare education.
• Comparing virtual simulation outcomes with in-person data aids in curriculum integration.

Outlook:

• Virtual simulation holds significant potential for future healthcare education applications.
• Pilot studies are crucial for educators and developers to identify and address challenges in implementing virtual simulation.
• Simulation, rooted in experiential learning, effectively bridges the gap between theory and practice across all healthcare education levels.