IS-03: Effective Simulation

Safety training is essential in engineering education; however, the current trainings lack student engagement. This project leverages VR/AR technology to replicate real-world laboratory scenarios and offers students hands-on experience in practicing safety protocols, identifying, and mitigating hazards. To enhance the safety training, we develop discipline-specific virtual reality modules to enforce effective training using Unity. Some of these modules recreate labs in fully gamified 3D environments, while others use panoramic images with interactive annotations. These modules aim to enhance student understanding of the safety guidelines and supplement the in-person safety training prior to entering the lab spaces.

Over the past 30 years, the Ingram School of Nursing at McGill University has transformed its approach to simulation as a pedagogical tool. Beginning with two plastic manikins in a flood-prone basement room, our simulation program has evolved into a state-of-the-art 12,000 square-foot facility with dedicated faculty, staff, high-fidelity manikins, and over 80 standardized patient actors. From just two simulations annually, our students now experience more than 20 simulation scenarios and hundreds of laboratory hours throughout their curriculum. This interactive session will share our journey, lessons learned, and practical recommendations for simulation program development.