SCENARIO DESIGN:6 TIPS FOR

SUCCESS

Session 2

Objectives

Describe the essential components of scenario design

Develop learning objectives that are suitable for simulation

Build a basic scenario to address those objectives

Anatomy of a Simulation

Learning Objectives/

Competencies

Event sets/Scenario

Synthetic/ immersive environment

Performance measures/dynamic

assessment

Performance diagnosis

Feedback/ instructional

strategy

Skill inventory/ historical performance

date

Task analysis data

Adapted from Jan Cannon-Bowers 2005

Anatomy of a Simulation

Learning Objectives/

Competencies

Event sets/Scenario

Synthetic/ immersive environment

Performance measures/dynamic

assessment

Performance diagnosis

Feedback/ instructional

strategy

Skill inventory/ historical performance

date

Task analysis data

Adapted from Jan Cannon-Bowers 2005

Scenario Design

Scenario design

The design and implementation of a partially scripted situation in which the learner is challenged to (and has the opportunity to) demonstrate the defined objectives.

IDENTIFY DESIRED LEARNING OUTCOME

Tip #1

DEVELOP LEARNING OBJECTIVES THAT CAN BE ADDRESSED WITH

SIMULATION

Tip #2

Learning objectives

Hint: use strong action verbs SMART objectives

Specific, measurable, appropriate, realistic, timebound

Centered around desired observable behaviors

Achievable for the learner

Example Objectives

By the end of this simulation training, learners will be able to:

demonstrate effective teamwork behaviors (ie. communication, information exchange, mutual support, leadership),

diagnose and manage a clinical condition, correctly perform a skill (ie.insertion of central

venous catheter, correct placement of an advanced airway) ,

effectively counsel a “standardized patient” about his or her prognosis, etc

DESIGN THE SCENARIO TO INCLUDE THE

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS

Tip #3

Who are your learners?

Identify who and how many learners will be involved in the simulation

Impacts complexity of scenarioInfluences debriefing and assessment plans

What are the Elements of Scenario Design ? Tools Environment Script (Story)

Patient “states” Learner actionsTrigger events

Confederate roles and instructions Facilitator instructions

Types (tools) of simulation

high fidelity (computerized full body manikin)

task trainer for skills performance mastery

“standardized patient” (learner interacting with a trained actor)

hybrid (combination of these)

Environmental considerations

setting medical equipment clinical forms Props (moulage?)

The story…..

Credible Beware of medical controversy unless

this is the purpose of the scenario Don’t try to trick the learner Who is your patient? What has

happened to him/her? When does the scenario start and end?

What drives the story forward? What distractions do you want to build in?

Important definitions

“State” “Triggers” “Learner Actions” “Confederate”

Trigger events

Effective building of a scenario requires trigger events.

A trigger event is a condition, action or event within the scenario that

move the “patient” into a different state

This should push the learner toward a specific action, decision or thought process

 

Confederate roles /instructions

Confederates should have a specific purpose within the scenario

Confederates should keep learners on track

Confederates should challenge learners in areas relevant to learning objectives

Confederates don’t lie unless that’s the objective (and why would it be?)

Facilitator instructions

Information necessary for another instructor to run your scenario without you

FAQs Good questions for debriefing Content that should be covered in

debriefing

REVIEW YOUR SCENARIO AND DO A DRY RUN

Tip #4

Dry Run Objectives Ensure that scenario progresses in a credible

way Ensure that learner actions move the scenario

in the desired direction Ensure that learner can achieve desired

objectives in the scenario Try to identify possible deviations from

anticipated learner actions, and build in ways to redirect learners

Refine scenario as necessary based on dry run

PLAN YOUR PREBRIEF

Tip #5

Prebrief

Establish learning climate Describe relevant features of simulator Describe learning objectives or

expectations The Basic Assumption The Fiction Contract The Promise (Vegas) Any information about the patient for the

learner(s) before the scenario begins

DEVELOP AN ASSESSMENT AND DEBRIEFING PLAN

Tip #6

Sample case scenarioTitle: Cardiac Arrest / PEA

Learning Objectives:

1. Demonstrate effective teamwork behaviors in a code situation

2. Provide effective treatment to the patient in a cardiac arrest

3. Demonstrate the ability to do a critical analysis of the underlying causes of the patients arrest

Case backround: 52 yo man with schizophrenia admitted from to general medicine from inpatient psych for evaluation of shortness of breath.  Nurse was going in to take vitals, thought pt looked strange - called for help