Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), in collaboration with Simulation Canada and with funding from the Government of Canada, provides educators across the country with access to over 200 virtual simulations. Designed for students in nursing, medical laboratory sciences, sonography, paramedicine, and respiratory therapy, these simulations offer innovative hands-on learning experiences to help students acquire practical competencies and build confidence.
Used by more than 10,000 students at 50+ institutions, these simulations are free for Canadian educators and students, with many accessible globally.
About the Collection
Created by Canadian post-secondary educators and grounded in defined pedagogical objectives, these virtual simulations provide clinical learning experiences in a low-risk environment. Most simulations run on a computer and can be accessed via a standard two-dimensional screen, though some require a virtual reality headset. In each simulation, students (individually or in groups) are presented with a clinical scenario to investigate and assess, with feedback provided on their decisions.
Originally developed as part of the Virtu-WIL project, the simulations in this collection have been peer-reviewed and piloted to ensure quality and effectiveness.
The simulations are indexed and can be searched by profession, title, topics and learning objectives. Use these simulations to enhance your training and curriculum!
Note: A free Simulation Canada website account is required to access the simulation materials. Additionally, some virtual simulation platforms may require you to create a free account.
Source Materials
The Virtu-WIL collection is an open educational resource (OER) initiative dedicated to empowering Canadian educators. You can contact us to request access to source materials including node maps, simulation scripts, decision points, videos, and more, in order to adapt these simulations. Please note that the material available may differ by scenario.
If you’re looking to access the simulations themsleves, please use the “access the collection” button above.