Software and Physical Simulations Class

Software and Physical Simulations

What do you think simulations are? What does it mean to you?
I think a simulation recreates an activity so that a student may learn an activity without actually partaking in it.

What other ideas do you have for uses in simulations?
To teach:

• Emergency Room Doctors how to handle children with several different disabilities, you could use a scenario based model and show how to treat several physical disabilities.


• How to drive motorized vehicles


• How to type


• Almost anything

Have you ever used physical simulators? Have you ever ridden one of those rides at EPCOT or some other amusement park to feel the sensations of flying or riding a rollercoaster or sailing through fields of grass?
Yes, to learn how to drive. The driving school I went to had a simulator that we used prior to getting behind the wheel of a real car.
I’ve ridden lots of rides that recreated the felling of several sensations. My favorite are the rollercoasters, you can find these at local shopping malls as well. My children love them.  

Design and describe (no pics) a learning environment that uses a Virtual Reality-based Simulation
We provide technical assistance to staff for several tasks so I could see so many uses for a program like Captivate that aids in the creation of software-based simulations. I decided to design a simulation for completing the KKI Trainee Registration Form.

Rationale:
Kennedy Krieger Institute (KKI) is required to report trainee information to funding and hospital accreditation agencies. Collection of training related data is centralized in Training and Instructional Media Resources (TIMR) through the distribution and collection of a Trainee Registration Form (TRF). The form is broken into two sections: one the trainee complete and one the trainee supervisor completes. The form must be completed and returned to TIMR prior to the trainee start date. The form is available on the KKI Intranet.

The training supervisors are seldom provided with guidance or training by senior staff members of their department causing compliance and accuracy to vary throughout the Institute. This simulation, designed by TIMR, will act as a training aid for the training supervisors with the goal of increasing compliance and accuracy of TRF submission.

This simulation will provide participants with a clear and concise method of completing the TRF’s by leading the participant through the actual task. The simulation will be available on the KKI Intranet.

Target Population:
The population for the simulation will be KKI staff/faculty that provides supervision to trainees.

Description:
The simulation will take 10-20 minutes to complete. The participant must have a computer with a sound card with a connection to the KKI Intranet. The simulation will have six basic sections. The simulation begins with a welcome section containing TAIR information and house-keeping information on navigation and help. The second section is the introduction information including how to find and access the TRF on the KKI Intranet. Completing the TRF trainee information section and the training supervisor section is covered in section three and four. Section five leads the student through the submission process. The last section provides an evaluation form.
All sections will contain screen shots, narration and interactivity. In section three and four the students will successfully complete a TRF. Feedback will be provided when the TRF is not completed and the student given another chance. If the student is unsuccessful the second time, the correct information will be completed for them.

Content Outline:
1. Welcome
2. Introduction: Finding and Accessing TRF
3. Completing TRF trainee information section
4. Completing the TRF training supervisor section
5. Submission
6. Evaluation

Objective:
Given this simulation and the KKI TRF, the student should be able to complete the KKI TRF accurately two out of three attempts.

Evaluation Strategy:
This simulation will utilize level one and level two evaluations. Participants will complete a level one evaluation immediately following the end of the simulation which will also include evaluation of the use of technology. A level two evaluation will be woven throughout the simulation by providing the participant two chances at correctly completing a step before proceeding to the next step. If the participant does not complete the step correctly on the first two tries then the correct answer will be provided allowing the student to proceed.

Participant Prerequisites:
Participants in the simulation should have attempted to complete a TRF. Basic computer skills with a word processor and the Internet are required.