Exploring the potential of AI to enhance the quality and flexibility of simulation-based learning in health and social care with focus on effective debriefing conversations.
Overview
Goggleminds and The Open University (OU) began collaborating in 2023 through our EdTech Foundry initiative. An initial project trialled the Goggleminds virtual reality training platform our OU nursing and social work students. Over 95% wanted to continue using the platform in their studies and found the experience highly motivating. We identified desired features and challenges to address together in scaling up the use of simulation-based learning for flexible online and distance learning across the health and social care training sector, strengthening workforce capability and improving service delivery.
We share the goal of expanding access to high-quality education and training across the health and social care sectors through innovative use of technologies. Training needs to be available anywhere and anytime to meet the needs of busy learners, but effective simulation-based learning requires wraparound activities such as guided reflective debrief sessions after the simulation. Because such wraparound activities are currently led by tutors and trainers, who are a limited resource, the simulation training itself is not available when it would suit the learner.
The primary role of the AVA Rewind project will be to guide learners in these post-simulation debrief activities and to provide essential support on the use of the Goggleminds platform. Our particular focus for the simulations used in the project will be to enable learners to practice their experience with challenging conversations in a safe, risk-free way. AVA Rewind will therefore enable effective online simulation-based training to scale up and provide the flexibility needed by healthcare students and professionals. We know that there will be wider potential uses for AI agents in supporting simulation-based learning and these will be identified for prioritisation through this project, developing the roadmap for further activities.
Funded by Business Wales through their SMART Flexible Innovation Support (FIS) scheme, the project will enable Goggleminds to iteratively enhance their technologies and simulation experiences with the participation of OU students and staff, providing new opportunities for training that can address gaps in skills across Wales, the UK and internationally. Goggleminds and The Open University (OU) began collaborating in 2023 through our EdTech Foundry initiative. An initial project trialled the Goggleminds virtual reality training platform our OU nursing and social work students. Over 95% wanted to continue using the platform in their studies and found the experience highly motivating. We identified desired features and challenges to address together in scaling up the use of simulation-based learning for flexible online and distance learning across the health and social care training sector, strengthening workforce capability and improving service delivery.
We share the goal of expanding access to high-quality education and training across the health and social care sectors through innovative use of technologies. Training needs to be available anywhere and anytime to meet the needs of busy learners, but effective simulation-based learning requires wraparound activities such as guided reflective debrief sessions after the simulation. Because such wraparound activities are currently led by tutors and trainers, who are a limited resource, the simulation training itself is not available when it would suit the learner.
The primary role of the AVA Rewind project will be to guide learners in these post-simulation debrief activities and to provide essential support on the use of the Goggleminds platform. Our particular focus for the simulations used in the project will be to enable learners to practice their experience with challenging conversations in a safe, risk-free way. AVA Rewind will therefore enable effective online simulation-based training to scale up and provide the flexibility needed by healthcare students and professionals. We know that there will be wider potential uses for AI agents in supporting simulation-based learning and these will be identified for prioritisation through this project, developing the roadmap for further activities.
Funded by Business Wales through their SMART Flexible Innovation Support (FIS) scheme, the project will enable Goggleminds to iteratively enhance their technologies and simulation experiences with the participation of OU students and staff, providing new opportunities for training that can address gaps in skills across Wales, the UK and internationally.
The role of IET
IET leads the project in collaboration with Goggleminds and with colleagues from our School of Health, Wellbeing and Social Care, and from OU Wales. We bring expertise in the design and evaluation of AI and simulation-based tools for learning.
Impact
The project will address three major challenges:
1: Delivering simulation-based learning to meet healthcare training needs with the flexibility and scale to meet demand
2: Effective simulation-based learning requires debrief activities, usually guided by instructors, which limits scale and flexibility
3: Harnessing AI to perform facilitation roles while keeping educators in the loop
Through this it can impact significantly on the education of the next generation of social workers, nurses and other professions, addressing recognised gaps in the numbers joining these professions and supporting their continued professional development.
