Firefighters face many high-risk situations, from battling fires to managing hazardous materials and medical emergencies. The inherent dangers of these scenarios are reflected in the statistics from the U.S. Fire Administration, which reported 141 on-duty firefighter fatalities in 2021. Recognizing the critical need for enhanced safety, the…

Background: Parents of children who are approaching end of life (EOL) state that interactions with health care providers are the most important factor in their overall appraisal of the child's health care experience. Interprofessional simulation experiences (Sim-IPE) have been shown to enhance health care professionals' knowledge, confidence, and…

Though statistical testing is commonly practiced, the logic of statistical tests is confusing, thinking about distributions is difficult, and the way statisticians formulate expectations as probability distributions is poorly understood. To support instruction, the statistics education community has increasingly utilized simulation-based…

This investigation narrates how digital game playing while integrating augmented reality can help enhance higher-order thinking. Digital game playing, when referring to games played on computers, game consoles, or handhelds, can be considered a powerful learning tool in education. The central problem of this investigation lies in the fact that…

Simulation technologies are used in simulation-based education however retention of knowledge, skills, and abilities have yet to be determined. This study evolved from areas of research that do not adequately show or address measurements of retention of knowledge, skills, and abilities in the professional environments after training with…

Given the expanding field of education within medicine, the purpose of this dissertation is to introduce an augmented reality (AR) medical simulator to the medical education community. This dissertation will describe the simulator development, feasibility, and acceptability to medical students and medical trainees. The following series of studies…

The implementation of computer-based simulations by teachers in the classroom can have a significant and varied impact on students' learning outcomes and engagement. In meta-analyses of the use of computer simulation in the classroom, several studies show a significant impact on students' learning and achievement outcomes. However, the…

Virtual environments (VE) and virtual reality (VR) through head-mounted displays (HMD) have been used to test and train eye-hand coordination skills in a way that is more immersive than traditional 2D video training. As this technology continues to evolve, researchers have sought to determine the degree to which these new technologies can augment…

This quasi-experimental research study 1) explored the effectiveness of implementing a Virtual Reality CPR simulation for improving knowledge and skills on the Basic Life Support exam and 2) explored the favorability of using a CPR VR simulation for recertification as measured through a self-efficacy survey instrument. Participants included staff,…

An ever-changing healthcare landscape requires today's nurses to have a solid foundation in knowledge and clinical judgment to provide safe care to patients. Nurse educators must implement teaching strategies that help develop the knowledge and clinical judgment that nursing students will need upon graduation and entry into healthcare.…

This mixed methods research study explores the university student learning experience of IP subnetting. Using a constructivist perspective, VR software was designed, written, and utilized in a learning process to gather both quantitative and qualitative data about the experience of learning IP subnetting. Participants underwent pre-test and…

Central Venous Catheterization (CVC) is a commonly performed medical procedure used for medication delivery to the heart. While CVC is conducted over 5 million times annually it is plagued with high complication rates, resulting in adverse effects on patients, and in the worst cases, death. These complications are directly related to the…

Best practices for video-assisted debriefing (VAD) technology use cannot be developed because the characteristics of VAD that lead to successful debriefing have not been identified. The purpose of this qualitative, multiple-case study with embedded units sought to employ observation, participant interviews, and documentation review in exploring…

This study employed a qualitative case study design to explore participants' perspective on learning STEM subjects through immersive mobile technologies. Immersive mobile learning (IML) is the learning approach that provides learners with immersive experiences and access to educational content ubiquitously using portable electronic devices.…

Through the use of virtual simulations (VS) in nursing education, nursing students are exposed to a variety of clinical scenarios that may potentially improve their learning of competencies, increase their self-efficacy, and enhance their future clinical performance. Despite limited quantitative research incorporating evidence-based strategies…