Here is how you can introduce interprofessional simulation into an undergraduate health sciences program: Start small: Introduce one simulation into a course at a time and do it well. Use instructor and learner feedback to improve the simulation for the next group of learners. Consider adapting a uniprofessional simulation for an interprofessional group of learners: […]

Adding a structured reflection immediately after an OSCE can provide information about crucial cognitive and subjective processes that affect student performance behaviours. Adding a structured reflection immediately after an OSCE can provide information about crucial cognitive and subjective processes that affect student performance behaviours. Based on the educator’s goals, reflections can be used to assess […]

A good blood clot can help enhance the physical fidelity of a simulation. Here are a couple of easy ways to simulate a clot. A good blood clot can really help enhance the physical fidelity of a simulation. Here are a couple easy ways to simulate a clot: Get a strawberry. Pull the strawberry apart […]

Research is a team sport. Like for any other sport; roles, responsibilities, expectations and credits of each player should be discussed and clarified right from the beginning of the game. Research is a team sport. Like for any other sport; roles, responsibilities, expectations and credits of each player should be discussed and clarified right from […]

If you are beginning a simulation program, many of your participants, instructors, and support staff will be unfamiliar with simulation. Always abide by the KISS (keep it simple simple!) principle. If you are beginning a simulation program, many (if not all) of your participants, instructors and support staff will be unfamiliar with simulation. Those familiar […]

The sense of smell is powerful in simulation. Just as in real life, odour can plan an important role in diagnosis. The sense of smell is powerful in simulation. Just as in real life, odour can plan an important role in diagnosis. It also help round out your environmental fidelity. Use rubbing alcohol for a […]

Authors: Han-Oh Chung and Joshua Peachey It’s important as a simulation leader to utilize all your tools efficiently to communicate the objectives of the simulation scenario. Just like every simulation is unique, no two debriefs are the same. It is important as a simulation leader to utilize all your tools efficiently to communicate the objectives […]

When choosing a simulation case, it’s essential to identify what learning objectives are being reinforced by the events that occur during the simulation. When choosing a case to be used, it is essential to identify what learning objectives are being reinforced by the events that occur during the simulation. For example, selecting a case whose […]

When developing OSCEs for assessing “soft skills”, it’s been useful to employ an iterative process involving numerous cycles. When developing OSCEs for assessing “soft skills”, it has been useful to employ an iterative process involving numerous cycles that: Conceptualize competence and identify the practice behaviors that represent the competency; Identify issues for potential scenarios that […]

The pre-brief is an essential, though sometimes overlooked, part of any simulation course. The pre-brief is an essential, though sometimes overlooked, part of any simulation course. Not only is it an opportunity for learner/instructor introductions and a review of the course objectives and expectations, but it is also the first opportunity for the instructor to […]

As psychological fidelity is a crucial aspect for the participant to “buy-into” simulation, it is vital that the information commonly presented in a real-life case is provided prior to the simulation. As psychological fidelity is a crucial aspect for the participant to “buy-into” simulation, it is vital that the information commonly presented in a real-life […]

When recreating a simulation for foreign body removal, you want an object that isn’t too easy to remove from the airway manikin. Use your old chicken bones! When recreating a sim for foreign body removal, you want an object that isn’t too easy to remove from the airway manikin (don’t use a standardized patient for […]

One of the most important areas in building a simulation is to start small and focused, and then make small, progressive changes. Keep it simple simple (KISS)! One area that simulation educators continue to have problems with is staying focused on the big picture when building a simulation scenario. Remember to keep things simple and […]

There’s nothing quite like a good cyst. Especially one filled with caseous pus. Use toothpaste with food coloring inside a glove tip or balloon. There’s nothing quite like a good cyst. Especially one filled with caseous pus. Use toothpaste with food coloring inside a glove tip or balloon! (Author: Lisa Satterthwaite)

In contrast to traditional teaching environments where the teacher controls the learning, serious games & virtual simulations present a learner-centered approach to education. Simulations, both physical and virtual, offer a viable alternative to practice in an actual operating room, offering residents the opportunity to train until they reach a specific competency level. One of the […]

An inquiry alone, when posed in a genuinely curious and friendly manner, can be the debriefer’s go-to maneuver when the perfect A-I molecule eludes them. I love the advocacy-inquiry (A-I) method of debriefing. I think it is the gold-standard that we should all strive to achieve when talking to learners in a safe environment. However, […]