Simulation and Technology Enhanced Learning: future implications for healthcare education and practice

Abstract

Simulation and Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) offers great promise for healthcare education arising from a rapid expansion in diverse technology driven advances in accessing medical knowledge and applying it to practice. This includes information presented in novel or interactive ways to learners and at a time convenient to them, transforming how this experience can be more explicitly learner centred and personalised. Significant advances include online learning options and digital connectivity, use of mobile learning technologies, many forms of simulation involving physical interaction and 3D printing through to virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). The success of these will be measured by the extent to which they can be implemented at scale and sustained alongside evidence demonstrating that they enable the health and social care workforce to develop the capabilities needed to support safe and effective care. This must be achieved amidst significant pressures faced by health systems from changing population demographics and financial pressures. An important large scale change has been the increased sharing of information and knowledge and collaboration to enable delivery of education and training beyond traditional boundaries. Examples include institutionally led and structured Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC’s) to enhance distance learning opportunities.1 Beyond this, the development and sharing of digital educational resources has adopted qualities akin to educational crowd sourcing using social media and networking platforms. Geographically and institutionally disparate groups can form, share resources, communicate and interact dynamically to suit their own needs, further demonstrated by the emergence of Free Open Access Meducation (FOAM) platforms.2 Professional bodies with specific responsibilities toward the education and development of the healthcare workforce have also supported this approach. A prime example is Health Education England’s Learning Solution which involves the development of a large scale, searchable digital compendium that seeks to improve access to existing learning …