Keynotes and Workshops

Opening Keynote

Leveraging Technology to Advance Simulation-Based Education (Kristen Brown)

Dr. Kristen Brown will discuss the current landscape of technology in simulation-based education and describe her experiences expanding opportunities leveraging XR.

Learning objectives

• Describe the current state of technology in Simulation-based Education
• Detail Innovative Approaches to Simulation-based Education

Morning Workshops

A Beginner's Guide to Assessment (Matt Charnetski)

Assessment of learners within a simulation program can be a confusing and daunting prospect. In this session, come to define and discuss what assessment can look like and how to start laying the groundwork or continuing your path toward high quality, defensible assessments in your program. Define common terms that are routinely misused and misunderstood surrounding assessment, choose your sim modality, and follow a process of best practices surrounding the development of assessments of all kinds.

Learning objectives

• Define common terms used surrounding assessment.
• Discuss functional methods of approaching concepts such as validity and reliability in assessment.
• Explore standards and best practices in assessment in simulation-based education.

Incorporating XR into your Simulation Program (Kristen Brown and Jessica Ockimey)

This workshop is dedicated to exploring the integration of Extended Reality (XR) (VR, AR, and MR) into simulation-based education. This comprehensive overview of XR's transformative impact across educational domains will be discussed along with the current state of the literature and methods for incorporating this technology into your program.

Learning objectives

• Describe the state of XR in simulation-based education
• Describe options for incorporating XR into multiple programs
• Describe the simulation standards of best practice specific XR
• Illustrate the simulation operation needs of incorporating XR into a simulation program

Debriefing Strategies in the Era of New Technologies (Sandy Swoboda)

Debriefing is a standard part of simulation training. The innovative use of advanced technologies, distance learning, and self-guided simulation experiences can be challenging for debriefing. Multiple modalities of debriefing can be incorporated into a simulated experience. This interactive session will review the literature and engage participants to share lessons learned from the field.

Learning objectives

• Identify debriefing modalities for simulation experiences
• Identify the use of AI in debriefing
• Discuss facilitators and barriers to debriefing with new technologies
• Describe the value of formative and developmental feedback

Defining Quality Metrics for “High-Fidelity” Assessment Methods (Geoffrey Miller)

“Assessment drives learning” is a common refrain amongst educators. However, the quality of tools for clinical procedural skill assessment varies widely and may not provide enough resolution of the tasks, subtasks and micro-skills needed to achieve high levels of performance, resulting in cognitive and psychomotor measurement gaps needed to provide specific, individualized feedback and performance improvement strategies to drive the next learning needs.

This workshop will present and discuss the use Hierarchical Task Analyses (HTAs) to improve assessment fidelity and their impact on improving individualized, actionable data for assessment, feedback and performance improvement strategies. Participants will review and modify a procedural skill assessment tool using the HTA approach during this session to create enhanced assessment tools and rubrics for use in their simulation courses and programs. Participants are encouraged to bring an assessment tool they currently use for procedural skill assessment to use and modify during the workshop.

Learning objectives

• Review current assessment methods and identify factors affecting the accuracy and reliability of these methods.
• Explore the development and use of Hierarchical Task Analyses (HTAs) to improve assessment fidelity and their impact on improving individualized, actionable data for assessment, feedback and performance improvement strategies.
• Review and modify a procedural assessment tool using the HTA approach.

Afternoon Opening Keynote

Assessing assessments in simulation-based healthcare education: Past, present, (problems) and the potential of (future) “high-fidelity” assessment (Geoffrey Miller)

This session will explore and evaluate common methods of assessment in simulation-based healthcare education and illuminate challenges and barriers to providing individualized, actionable feedback to enhance data-driven performance improvement strategies.

A future, digitally augmented, “high-fidelity” method for data-driven performance measurement will be presented demonstrating how these advances in assessment will allow for more self-directed learning opportunities with procedural skills training and maintenance, individualized, expert performance diagnosis and feedback, and individually tailored performance improvement strategies focused on accelerating learning and minimizing skill degradation over time.

Learning objectives

• Examine past and current trends in simulation-based medical and healthcare assessment.
• Evaluate challenges and barriers to achieving actionable data needed to enhance the effectiveness of performance improvement through assessment.
• Explore technologies and approaches enabling a movement towards achieving “high-fidelity” assessment data for medical and healthcare professions.

Afternoon Workshops

That Which is Meant for Us Shall Not Pass Us By (Matt Charnetski)

Professional development and progression in simulation can be a poorly defined and sometimes daunting prospect, especially when each of us have such varied backgrounds and direct pathways are not always clear. In this session, explore models used to define professions within simulation and examine your personal path forward through the lens of what brought you here. Armed with this knowledge and these tools, develop your individual professional development and growth plan.

Learning objectives

• Examine different models used to define simulation professions.
• Discuss methods to examine your personal career path.
• Engage with these models and methods to determine next steps in career progression.

Leveraging Distance Simulation to Increase Immersive Education (Kristen Brown)

This workshop will provide an overview of the current landscape of distance simulation in healthcare education. Participants will explore the use of remote technologies that are revolutionizing training methodologies, enhancing accessibility, and addressing geographical barriers.

Learning objectives

• Describe the state of distance simulation in healthcare
• Describe the simulation standards of best practice specific distance simulation
• Illustrate the operation needs of distance simulation
• Detail exemplars of distance simulation

Using Mindfulness and Resilience in Simulation (Sandy Swoboda and Jessica Ockimey)

Healthcare staff regularly face ethical challenges in the clinical setting which impacts resilience and can lead to burnout. The use of mindfulness strategies and simulation activities with focused feedback can increase overall self-awareness and improve resilience in difficult ethical situations, challenging conversations, and conflict management. The session will include breakouts for skill practice and group activity.

Learning objectives

• Identify stressors and challenges in the clinical setting
• Practice mindfulness activities to address challenges in clinical practice
• Identify strategies to build resilience

The Digitally Augmented “High-Fidelity” Assessment Environment – New Tools for an Old Problem (Geoffrey Miller)

Direct observational ratings of performance employ non-standardized criteria and are inherently subject to observer bias, creating feedback that is variable in quality. These methods are costly and time-consuming because experts are necessary to train and assess learners.

This workshop will present and discuss the use of currently available technologies that can improve the accuracy of ratings and provide “high-fidelity” feedback to both instructors and participants for use in actionable performance improvement feedback during simulation-based learning and assessment activities. Participants will have the opportunity to observe several digital assessment technologies during this session.

Learning objectives

• Identify challenges and barriers to conducting accurate, high-resolution performance assessments using current commonly accepted methods of assessment.
• Describe current digital assessment technologies which can improve the “fidelity” of assessment and how they may be implemented within current assessment methods.
• Demonstrate currently available digital technologies which can be used to augment current performance assessment methods and substantially increase the accuracy of individualized, actionable data for assessment, feedback and performance improvement activities