Simulation teaching arouses international interest
Simulation in learning was introduced to exchange students and teachers all over the world at Ruiskatu Campus during TUAS International Week. There were participants from Spain, Switzerland, Netherlands, China and Lithuania.
Text: Linda Pyykkönen, communications trainee
- The guests all were very impressed by our simulation teaching, says Nina Rantalaiho-Kulo, lecturer of Degree Programme of Nursing.
There was a simulation workshop in addition to the presentation held by Rantalaiho-Kulo and project worker Anu Havisto. The participants had the chance to see the method in action in the workshop. Main point of the presentation was the use of Flinga, a Finnish application through which students and teachers can produce content simultaneously.
Simulation is widely used as a teaching method in Faculty of Health Care and Well-being. Typical simulation situation consists of introduction, simulation and debriefing. Debriefing is seen as the most important learning experience in the whole process. The objective is that health care students learn to perform procedures safely before moving on to real patients.
- A Spanish nurse and part-time lecturer from the University of Cordoba told me that the simulation workshop was the main reason for him to attend the international week in the first place, says Rantalaiho-Kulo.
Simulation teaching is not very common in countries outside Finland. But in Spain, for example, simulation is slowly making an entrance. Interest in simulation is shown not only in health care institutes but also in hospitals.
- Simulation will become more and more crucial in our teaching strategy as well, as the amount of theory lessons will be reduced, Rantalaiho-Kulo thinks.