The remainder of the 2021-2022 school year holds some uncertainties for all of us. But if you’re a K-12 Health Sciences educator, you’re likely still moving aggressively ahead on the many priorities you’ve set for the year.
2022 brings many opportunities to make an impact on learning outcomes. Keep reading to explore a few of the current priorities that have the attention of many districts this year. And, learn some ways you can use simulation in these areas to elevate your Health Sciences program.
Helping your students engage again
In a health sciences curriculum, engagement seems even more paramount – because it impacts the learning effectiveness of skills that may one day save a life. If you’re seeking ways to boost engagement in your curriculum, simulation-based training can help. Simulation provides students with a comprehensive and repeatable hands-on learning experience. This encounter allows them to practice assessment, diagnosis, and clinical procedures on a lifelike manikin. In this immersive setting, students can perfect their skills and build confidence in a safe setting. The hands-on environment of simulation brings learning to life in a way that textbook and PowerPoint slides fall short. Students who train using simulation experience a higher level of engagement and show more personal involvement in their training compared to those who only experience didactic learning.
Tackling the “COVID-slide” by making learning stick
If you’re still facing any COVID-related unfinished learning with your Health Sciences students, the challenge of making up for lost time as efficiently as possible has likely been a difficult one. Leveraging teaching methods that ensure students learn effectively today and retain their new knowledge for tomorrow can help students be ready for the workforce without additional time setbacks.
The hands-on, realistic nature of simulation gives it the power to leave a lingering impression on students – in the form of increased learning retention. Simulation has been shown to result in higher long-term retention rates vs. exclusively didactic learning. And, evidence indicates that clinical skills acquired in medical simulation laboratory settings transfer directly to improved patient care practices and better patient outcomes.
Reinforcing social and emotional learning (SEL) competencies in a real-world environment
In terms of career training, SEL skills are paramount – because they’ll be needed and desired in essentially any workplace. In the health sciences, these skills are a cornerstone in preparing students to practice safe, patient-centered care. In a survey of employers, 79% ranked social-emotional skills as more important than cognitive and technical skills.
If you’re looking for a way to reinforce SEL training you’re currently conducting in your health sciences curriculum, simulation can help. A simulation scenario can lend students the opportunity to apply a range of SEL skills in a similar environment to the one they’ll face in their healthcare careers.
To read the full version of this article and begin exploring how simulation can make a difference in your Health Sciences CTE program, visit https://laerdal.com/us/information/priorities-in-k-12-learning/.
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