SimSimple in Practice – Experiential Learning for Simulation Educators

How do you teach simulation without… simulating?

That was the guiding principle behind a recent faculty development workshop for simulation educators. The goal? Help clinicians and educators learn how to design and deliver effective simulation. The method? Experiential learning—start to finish.

Over three hours, participants explored foundational simulation concepts such as:

• Psychological safety and how to set the tone in a pre-brief

• Matching modality to learning objectives

• Building realistic, flexible scenario designs

• Facilitating meaningful engagement without overengineering

And all of it was done without a single slide.

Instead of watching presentations, participants lived the learning—using Visually Enhanced Mental Simulation (VEMS) with SimSimple Kits as the backbone for practice. 

The VEMS format made this possible. Without the logistical and technical demands of manikins or sim centres, educators could focus on the how and why of simulation delivery—choosing equipment, scripting patient responses, and experimenting with structure and timing.

By keeping it simple, the workshop stayed practical, flexible, and inclusive. And most importantly, it mirrored the principles being taught: clarity of objectives, psychological safety, and adaptive design.

This session was a powerful reminder that good simulation doesn’t have to be complex—and that training great facilitators starts by giving them the chance to create, reflect, and explore in their own way.

Want to empower your educators through experiential faculty development? Start with a SimSimple BaseKit