Healthcare Students' Experiences of Learner-Educator Cocreation of Virtual Simulations: A Phenomenographic Study

Cocreating virtual simulations with learners during a course is an innovative approach to improving student preparation for real-world practice while helping simulationists meet learner needs, support authentic assessment, and maximize the impact of simulation-based learning. This study explores differences in healthcare students' experiences of learner-educator cocreation of virtual simulations (LECoVSs) using phenomenographic methods. Identifying differences in perceptions of LECoVSs enables educators to make evidence-informed decisions about engaging in simulation cocreation as a tool to maximize learning.

Phenomenography focuses on identifying different ways that participants can experience the same phenomenon, in this case, LECoVSs. The setting was a collaborative interprofessional simulation assignment between navigation and nursing students. Participants completed a demographic survey then submitted reflective journals completed during the course and/or an open-ended survey. Data analysis occurred in iterative stages, from familiarization with the data to grouping and interpreting themes.

Nineteen open-ended surveys and 13 reflective journals from navigation and nursing students who completed the simulation assignment between 2021 and 2023 were analyzed. Students experienced LECoVSs in 4 increasingly complex ways: (1) supporting consistent student progress, (2) amending course expectations, (3) sharing decision-making, and (4) fostering mutual growth.

Simulationists may leverage cocreation to improve student learning, access, empowerment, and professional growth. However, for students to achieve higher learning outcomes, educators need to clearly communicate the full potential of cocreation, how it can occur, and why it can support learning. This study's findings may be used as a framework for explaining simulation cocreation to students to maximize their learning.