CONTEXT European health care faculties have embraced simulation as a new pedagogy, offering learners a safe environment to apply knowledge, advance their skills and reflect on clinical decision-making. In this pioneering stage the European focus was mainly on developing high-fidelity simulation using manikins in a laboratory setting with hands-on or in-person experience in a clinical scenario and a debriefing session. COVID-19 frequently suspends all hands-on teaching activities, including simulation. In the past months of “remote emergency teaching” little attention could be paid to a quick and sudden shift for hands-on simulation sessions. In this new era, a worthy online alternative needs to be offered to teachers and students to safeguard simulation pedagogy as critical educational component in practice-oriented curricula. OBJECTIVES ENVISION is a two-year strategic partnership with the objective to build digital education readiness of European faculty and students in accessible online virtual gaming simulation to replace or supplement hands-on simulation activities. In close collaboration with educational experts and a digital technology provider a high quality, inclusive digital education methodology will be created and used safeguarding the best practice standards of simulation. PARTICIPANTS ENVISION starts as a consortium of seven partners of five European Countries and one consortium of nursing faculties in partner country Canada. European educational experts - Arteveldehogeschool (AHS), Belgium, Ghent: University of Applied Sciences; - Andragoski zavod Ljudska univerza Velenje (AZ LUV), Slovenia, Velenje: adult education provider; - Universiteit Gent, (UGent), Belgium, Ghent: Research University; - Universitat Rovira I Virgili (URV), Spain, Tarragona: Comprehensive University; - Oulu University of Applied Sciences (OUAS), Finland, Oulu: one of the largest Universities of Applied Sciences in Finland. Digital technology provider - Joubel: company behind H5P, which makes it easy for everyone to create and share interactive content with a great user experience, both for content creators and content consumers. Partner Country: - The Ryerson, Centennial, George Brown Collaborative Nursing Degree Program, Ryerson University, Canada, Toronto: world leader in the development and research in Virtual Gaming Simulation. ACTIVITIES Envision will implement two generations of virtual gaming simulation (VGS), to be used in remote, blended and in-class teaching. VGS is a web-based and open access educational resource providing an enjoyable and engaging learning tool that promotes clinical reasoning and knowledge acquisition and enhances self-efficacy. Technology requirements are low: an internet connection is the only requirement. In VGS standardized patients are used to act out simulated clinical scenario’s. Film clips provide realistic images of the clinical scene fortifying the fidelity of the simulation. These videos using live actors are combined with interactive gaming elements to heighten learner engagement. A VGS can be played anywhere and anytime with repetitive play facilitating skill development. The VGS-platform creates possibilities to integrate the other effective parts of simulation: pre-briefing and debriefing. In that context, a European digital technology framework will be created to integrate all the main components of prebriefing, scenario and debriefing in the VGS. Teachers and students will be supported in their digital education readiness for the use and creation of VGS by two guidelines for use and creation of VGS. METHODOLOGY As overall strategy, the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK)-framework (Koehler & Mishra, 2006) will be used to share knowledge and create innovative solutions in this relatively new educational field. At the heart of the TPACK model, is the complex interplay of three primary forms of knowledge: Content, Pedagogy and Technology. We use this framework to assembly VGS-TPACK-teams who will use a train-the-trainer concept to become a champion in the use and creation of VGS. IMPACT On its completion, ENVISION will have made the first European VGS on health care topics relevant for European health care education. This will be embedded in an open access educational resource with guidelines on the use and the creation of VGS, creating the term ‘ENVISION’ or ‘European Network on VIrtual Simulation Online’. VGS can replace or supplement the hands-on simulation activities as it can be used in remote learning and integrated in blended learning. ENVISION is supported by a strong north-south and west-east axis to cover dissemination and offer students international learning experiences from different health care settings in an era where learning mobility can be limited.
ENVISION, or the European Network on Virtual Simulation Online, is a 2-year strategic partnership that aims to improve the digital education readiness of European teachers and students in the use and development of Virtual Gaming Simulation (VGS) to address the challenges posed by the pandemic in simulation education. The primary objective is to create an all-encompassing online simulation experience for nursing education in Europe using VGS, which has been deemed a suitable option due to its capability to meet the requirements of high-quality and inclusive digital education. The implementation of the first two European VGS by ENVISION will allow the consortium to build capacity in online, blended, and distance learning based on the principles of simulation education. A European digital framework integrating all major simulation components will contribute to the online simulation experience further. Guidelines on how to use and create VGS will be shared across Europe to support educators and students in enhancing their digital competencies in online simulation. The project's intellectual outputs are available in open access to equip and support all stakeholders with the necessary skills to provide high-quality digital education.
The use of simulation education in healthcare curricula has become increasingly important in recent years. This teaching approach provides students with a realistic and safe environment to apply their theoretical knowledge, improve communication skills, and enhance clinical decision-making abilities, while promoting self-esteem and self-confidence to handle real-life challenges. Simulation education bridges the gap between theory and practice and is supported by evidence-based research that highlights its positive impact on students, educators, and communities. In Europe, the focus has been on developing high-fidelity simulations using sophisticated manikins and providing hands-on experience in small groups with teachers and students. Many higher education institutions (HEIs) have invested in staff and infrastructure to facilitate this approach. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption to in-person teaching activities, including hands-on simulation sessions. This situation has presented HEIs with the challenge of preserving the principles and benefits of simulation pedagogy in the absence of readily available digital alternatives.