2. Introduction
As educators, we often are placed in the challenging position of making the
knowledge generated by research available to our audience in a way that makes
sense and is useful to them. To do this, we have to understand both 1) the
research--judging the validity of its claims and whether they will be useful/helpful
to the audience, and 2) the audience--assessing the audience’s needs and existing
knowledge in order to make the information meaningful to them. While it takes
time to investigate both of these, an initial investment of time and thought before
developing educative materials and/or teaching helps us to understand more clearly
3. what we are teaching, why we are teaching it, and how we can address more
efficiently and effectively the needs of our audience. The last point is based on a
key principle of educating, that the most important factor influencing learning is
what the learner already knows. We need to ascertain this and teach accordingly if
we are to best succeed in helping learners to use new knowledge to make
decisions, change their behavior, or achieve a different level of understanding.
Concept Mapping
A concept map is a type of graphic organizer used to help students organize and
represent knowledge of a subject. Concept maps begin with a main idea (or
concept) and then branch out to show how that main idea can be broken down into
specific topics.
Concept Mapping Used as a learning and teaching technique, concept mapping
visually illustrates the relationships between concepts and ideas. Often represented
in circles or boxes, concepts are linked by words and phrases that explain the
connection between the ideas, helping students organize and structure their
4. thoughts to further understand information and discover new relationships. Most
concept maps represent a hierarchical structure, with the overall, broad concept
first with connected sub-topics, more specific concepts,
Benefits of Concept Mapping
Helping students brainstorm and generate new ideas
Encouraging students to discover new concepts and the propositions that
connect them
Allowing students to more clearly communicate ideas, thoughts and
information
Helping students integrate new concepts with older concepts
5. Enabling students to gain enhanced knowledge of any topic and evaluate the
information
Concept Maps in Education
When created correctly and thoroughly, concept mapping is a powerful way for
students to reach high levels of cognitive performance. A concept map is also not
just a learning tool, but an ideal evaluation tool for educators measuring the growth
of and assessing student learning. As students create concept maps, they reiterate
ideas using their own words and help identify incorrect ideas and concepts;
educators are able to see what students do not understand, providing an accurate,
objective way to evaluate areas in which students do not yet grasp concepts fully.
Inspiration Software®’s Inspiration®, Kidspiration® and Webspiration
Classroom™ service all contain Diagram Views that makes it easy for students to
create concept maps; students are able to add new concepts and links as they see
fit. Inspiration, Kidspiration and Webspiration Classroom also come with a variety
of concept map examples, templates and lesson plans to show how concept
mapping and the use of other graphic organizers can easily be integrated into the
curriculum to enhance learning, comprehension and writing skills
Simulation
Imitating the behavior of some situation or some process by means of something
suitably analogous
Types of simulation
6. a)Task Training Simulation
Task Training simulation allows the student to practice basic skills to ensure
patient safety and comfort. Physicians and students attain individual improvement
from the ability to practice a variety of skills, such as suturing, dissection, and
pattern cutting, and allows physicians in training to improve their visual, tactile
and coordination skills.
b)Manikin-based Simulation
Manikin-based simulation includes low, mid and high fidelity simulation manikins
used in the training of healthcare providers. The level of fidelity refers to the
technological abilities of the equipment, from a static manikin used for skills
training all the way to a manikin that communicates, has dynamic vital signs,
blinks, cries and whose chest rises and falls.
c)Standardized Patient Simulation
Standardized Patient simulations facilitate interactive teaching through the
innovative combination of technology and patient actors. The patient actors are
called Standardized Patients, and they are used extensively by OHSU schools to
teach clinical skills to medical, nursing, and PAstudents.
d)Virtual Reality Simulation
The use of virtual simulators gives students, faculty, and medical providers leading
edge tools to investigate and adapts to the advancement in medical training. By
7. using unique state-of-the-art virtual devices, it enables medical providers with high
fidelity training procedural simulation enhanced with true-to-life tactile sensations.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF SIMULATION
References
1) An Introduction to Concept Mapping Joseph D. Novak
2)An Introduction to Concept Mapping for Planning William M.K. Trochim
