COLLEGES AND INSTITUTES CANADA
Open collection of virtual simulations now available to healthcare educators

Educators across Canada can now freely access 137 new virtual simulations designed to give students in nursing, medical laboratory sciences, and paramedicine innovative hands-on learning experiences. The simulations were developed as part of Virtu-WIL, a Colleges and Institutes Canada initiative using virtual simulations to enhance healthcare education. The collection is now available through Simulation Canada's website, a key partner on the project.

Virtual simulations are an effective way to help better prepare students for the workplace. They became increasingly important when COVID-19 public health measures reduced access to both clinical placements and in-person simulation facilities. In just eight months, 137 new simulations were created by educators from 31 post-secondary institutions, with an emphasis placed on creating scenarios that included marginalized populations such as LGTBQ2S+ and racialized patients.

The Virtu-WIL project is funded by the Government of Canada and brings together post-secondary institutions, employers, and suppliers to develop, implement, and distribute virtual simulation opportunities for students in identified sectors. Thanks to renewed funding, the project will continue for another two years and expand to include new virtual simulations for sonography students.

These first 137 virtual simulations are now available as a special online repository available openly to educators and curriculum developers. The simulations are indexed and can be searched by author, topic, and learning objectives. All simulations are free for Canadian educators and students to use, and many are available to international educators.

To access the simulations, visit https://simulationcanada.ca/virtu-wil/ 

Quotes

"These new virtual simulations are exceptional learning tools that make the journey from education to employment flexible, equitable, and accessible to all. Students face real-world situations to test their knowledge, develop a range of clinical skills, and build confidence. It's an example of how colleges and institutes are using technology to create innovative ways for students to gain employment-focused skills." - Denise Amyot, CEO and President of CICan

"This is a tremendous achievement for healthcare education in Canada and illustrates the willingness to collaborate and share for the sake of all Canadians. Virtual simulation is an accessible, engaging, impactful educational technique, and this resource collection will make high-quality virtual simulation accessible to educators and students across Canada." - Timothy Willett, CEO and President of Simulation Canada