Bringing Real World Experiences to online learning using simulation

John Bourne, Ph.DChief Academic Officer

American Sentinel UniversityExecutive Director Emeritus, The Sloan

ConsortiumEmeritus Professor at Olin College, Babson

College

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Why consider Simulation for “Real World Experiences?

• 3-D Simulations based on game engines provide high-fidelity realism.

• The way students learn best is by “doing”; “doing” things can be done in a 3-D world. • But, it is a challenge to “do” online – we think 3D

simulations provide that affordance through situated learning in immersive environments.

• 3-D Game technology now provides an excellent platform for creating learning situations that are:

• Engaging, Immersive, Situated• Capture concepts and easily transfer to real world• Hypothesis: students will learn better, retain knowledge longer

and be able to apply knowledge in their careers with more use of immersive simulations in their education.

Computer-based Educational Simulations

Progress over the decades

Steamer – circa 1980s

Work in South Korea – 15 years ago. Appeared in IMEJ; with permission.

Work in South Korea – 15 years ago. Appeared in IMEJ; with permission.

Chemistry sim: Concord Consortium

The Movement to:“Real Experiences”

Loyalist College massively improves test scores and training outcomes in border crossing

simulation

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Virtual Blended

Above: from VenueGen

Health Simulations are being implemented to teach:

Diagnostic SkillsCommunication SkillsHealth Promotion Environmental Health

Tox Town: National Library of Medicine (NIH)

Health-Related Areas

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Affordances for SimsSciences:  Physics, Chemistry, BiologyHealth Care: Nursing, Medicine, Pharmacy, InformaticsArts and Sciences, General Ed: History, Sociology,

Literature……Technology:  Programming, CS, IS, Game Design and

Building, GIS, Engineering:

Mechanical/manufacturing: Chemical:  chemical plants , process flow;Civil -construction, historical events (e.g., Tacoma narrows)

Math:  using affordances of 3D mathematical knowledge, learning math through visualization, game design

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Creating a Mash-up Strategy for Delivery

Hello: This is Rick, I’m your guide-on-the-side. Ask me about things you want to know about using this learning system:

Traditional Web Virtual Campus Artificial Intelligence

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The Virtual Campus

Museum and Resource Center• Slides on nursing

history (walk around, review, talk to docents)

• Resources for how to use tools (e.g. Turn it in, ePortfolios, Moodle)

• Staffed by bots and student success advisors

Virtual Learning Center

Nursing Theorists

The Florence Nightingale Bot Dialogs

The Appalachian Community Environment

The View the Student Sees (nursing)

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Assessing SimulationsCharacteristic DescriptionOnboarding Introduction provides explanation tutorial and

practiceInteraction Robust interaction with simFeedback Immediate feedback givenIdentity Learning identifies with own identity in-worldImmersion Immersion provides “Flow” (Csikszentmihalyi)Pleasurable frustration Provides challenges that are overcome with workManipulation Objects in-world can be manipulated (fluid)Increasing skills/knowledge

Scaffolded learning is evident and clear

Rules Rules are provide at outsetInformed learning Students understand what the rules are

Pedagogy The material could not be taught without the simMulti and single player COI is evident and NPCs used for anywhere-anytime

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View through windshield

Windshield Survey for Nursing Community Health course:

Systematic observations made from a moving vehicle with an objective of improving health in a community.

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Bus

Routes

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Virtual Hospital/Health Assessment

The India Simulation

Purpose: Teach how

to filter water in an Indian Village that has arsenic in its water

The Next Immersion step: Oculus Rift and Razer HydraHow do you

teach how to draw blood?

Millimeter accuracy

Some things you can do!• Learn about educational simulations• Build simulations with Unity 3D engine for free (

www.unity3d.com for download).• Talk to Reaction Grid (at this conference) and to

our American Sentinel team that is creating sims for STEM fields (especially nursing)

• Join the Sloan-C STEM special interest group• Write me (John.Bourne@americansentinel.edu)

about your interests

1.800.729.2427www.americansentinel.edu