This chapter describes and defines role-play simulations. Reviews of two undergraduate role-play studies highlight the advantages and benefits of using simulations. Few secondary students participate in science or STEM role-plays during their high school careers. This chapter portrays the CyberSurgeons live simulation where teams of students use critical thinking skills and scientific knowledge to solve emergency medical problems. During their virtual mission students become part of an emergency medical team aboard a National Institutes of Health (NIH) mercy ship traveling up the Amazon River. Authors describe CyberSurgeons' learning goals, design features, mission day experiences, and the summative evaluation. Findings from the summative evaluation indicate that the CyberSurgeons program provides an authentic context for high school students to apply their knowledge of biology, physiology, and the diagnostic process to analyze data and make decisions as professionals in the biomedical field. Recommendations and future research considerations close this chapter.
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This chapter aligns with Strand 2, Pedagogical Concepts and Related Practice, and identifies pedagogical aspects of learning in the CyberSurgeons live, role-based, clinical simulation for high school students. The chapter describes the pedagogical concepts and related best practices for the online simulation learning goals and design/development, simulation mission preparation, mission day, literature review, summative evaluation results, and recommendations for research about role-playing simulations.
Innovative ways that teach students about real-world applications of anatomy and physiology, biology, and health professions in a cost-effective, authentic manner are needed to prepare high school students for biomedical careers. Immersing students in didactic content while providing limited hands-on experience can teach content but does not inform high school students about the complexities of clinical diagnosis and treatment involved in the biomedical workplace. To advance the research literature about the use of role-playing simulations in high school science classrooms, this chapter provides a literature review about the use of role-based simulations in secondary classrooms. The review highlights two role-play studies conducted at the undergraduate level (one medical student and one interdisciplinary health) to describe the benefits and advantages of using simulations. The next section of the chapter focuses on multiple aspects of the CyberSurgeons live-simulation experience including learning goals and design/development, simulation design features, facilitator’s programming features, simulation mission preparation, simulation/mission day, the summative evaluation, and potential conditions that may negatively impact CyberSurgeons. This chapter closes with recommendations, future research directions, and the conclusion. After reviewing this chapter, readers will be able to
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Define a role-play simulation.
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Discuss the benefits and advantages of using role-play simulations in secondary science classrooms.
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Understand the development and design features of the CyberSurgeons live simulation.
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Review the summative evaluation results for CyberSurgeons and realize the challenges for evaluation of online, role-playing simulations in secondary science classrooms.
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Identify opportunities for introducing science simulations into high school curriculum.