SIMBA: Simulation-based learning in Occupational Therapy Education
The aim of the Erasmus+ funded project "Simulation-based learning in Occupational Therapy Education" (SIMBA) is the integration of simulation-based learning (SBL) and its evaluation in all phases of occupational therapy education, so that students actively participate in their learning process and feel qualified when they enter the profession as occupational therapists after graduation.
The focus of the three-year research project is the development and application of an evidence-based SBL tool in the various training phases between five partner organisations (AP University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp, Belgium; University of Health Sciences, Croatia; FH JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences, Austria; Turku University of Applied Sciences, Finland, and Istanbul Medipol University, Turkey).
In the long term, SIMBA will promote professional skills and competences and thus increase the quality, safety and efficiency of occupational therapy services. SIMBA will develop an online platform where occupational therapy students and teachers can openly share materials and information with everyone, thus promoting international and inter-university educational co-operation.
Work Packages and Results
In addition to work package 1 "Project management", SIMBA will deliver the following results in three work packages:
Work package 2: Construct a clear framework and create guidelines for the application of simulation-based learning (SBL) in occupational therapy
- Creation of a clear framework that defines and operationalises important professional competences in occupational therapy education
- Development and presentation of guidelines for the application of SBL methods for learning and assessing important competences in occupational therapy education
Work package 3: Developing a simulation-based assessment in occupational therapy
- Integration of a valid and reliable SBL assessment tool at different levels of the occupational therapy education programmes of the partner organisations, which can be available, applicable and subsequently disseminated in Europe in the official languages of the partner organisations
Work package 4: To embed simulation-based learning in occupational therapy
- Development and application of structured, case-based occupational therapy case scenarios for SBL in the respective occupational therapy education programmes of the partner organisations
- Development of simulation training manuals, available in the official languages of the partner organisations
- Establishment of a validated, open-access web platform for SBL in occupational therapy to facilitate learning and information exchange between students, professionals and stakeholders in Europe
Further information can be found on the project website.