5 Ways Simulations Strengthen High School Healthcare Education

What does it take to deliver a high school healthcare curriculum that not only engages students but also equips them for future careers? Meet Paulette Diener, an RN with over 25 years of experience, a dedicated Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) Advisor, and a Health Care Science educator for over a decade in Georgia. Discovering online healthcare simulations at a HOSA conference was a game-changer in her quest to create exceptional learning experiences: “Oh, my gosh, I was so excited that there was a resource like this available!”

We sat down with Paulette to learn more about why she feels online simulations are the key to creating an enriching learning experience that prepares students for post-classroom careers.

1. Meeting Students Where They Are

Paulette recognizes that today’s students are digital natives, and they expect their learning to align with the tech-driven world they’ve grown up in. “Educators know that you have to make learning relevant for students, and online is normal for them. They’ve grown up with it.”

In her classroom, the impact is clear. “It’s not about replacing traditional or hands-on teaching and learning. Digital resources enrich the whole learning experience and help to reinforce it too. With web-based simulations, students can not only learn, but can go back at any time to review and practice skills, and get a better understanding of concepts they’re having difficulty with.”

2. Differentiating for Self-Paced Learning

One of the most significant advantages Paulette sees in online simulations is the autonomy they offer students. This flexibility boosts both attention and motivation. “In the classroom, they have to go along with what the teacher is doing and how the other students are progressing. It’s not individualized. Online simulations give students the flexibility to learn when they’re ready and go at their own pace.”

And although learning is self-paced, students are far from isolated. “SIMTICS simulations have their own tutoring built in. It’s guiding them all the time and tracking their progress, and I can view reports on that,” Paulette explains.

3. Building Critical Thinking Skills

At Paulette’s high school, students can pursue career pathways in non-invasive diagnostic imaging and allied health, including medical assisting. “If you’re not doing hands-on in the classroom, or lab time is limited, then online simulations are a perfect way to learn practical skills. Simulations are so much better than videos alone, which students can skim over or get distracted from. When they do an online simulation, it requires them to think. They must do all the steps, in the right sequence, so they’re learning how to do it properly.”

The results are undeniable. “I see a difference in attention and in retention of the information. And my students are better prepared when they actually do the skill.”

4. Reducing the Fear of Failure

One of the biggest hurdles to classroom learning is fear—fear of failure, and fear of judgment from peers. “Fear of failure can block students from learning, or fear of their peers rejecting them because they’ve failed. Students can’t have a good learning experience if they’re insecure. They don’t want to ask questions, or have the class go back over stuff that most of the students are getting and they’re not. Online simulations take that risk away since when students fail in a simulation, they fail in private, and they’re encouraged to try again until they succeed.”

5. Preparing Students for Job-Readiness Straight Out of High School

“For many, two to four years at college with mounting debt and uncertain job prospects is unappealing. Hybrid, career-focused courses at high school with online learning components, including simulations, allow people to leave school job-ready.”

Realistic online healthcare simulations, like SIMTICS, immerse students in the world of working professionals, offering a risk-free yet impactful learning environment that benefits both students and educators.

“There’s even a place for using these simulations in middle school, to let students experience what they would be doing in different health careers. It’s a great opportunity for our young people.”

A Word of Advice for Fellow Educators

Paulette leaves fellow educators with a piece of advice as they navigate the evolving landscape of education technology. “Education must make adjustments as technology changes and new options become available. As educators, we are learning that we have to make the experience relevant for students and education technology is a wonderful way to achieve that. Online and hybrid learning will take over, it’s the future, so it makes sense to move that way now and be ready for it.”

Interested in Bringing Simulation-Based Learning to Your Classroom?

If you're looking to give your students a deeper understanding of practical skills and better prepare them for healthcare careers, our online simulations could be the perfect fit.

Reach out to our team to learn more about how these tools can be integrated into your classroom to support your students' success both in school and beyond.