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Workshop Introduction

Are you interested in research but not quite sure where to begin with qualitative research in simulation-based education?

This workshop offers a practical introduction to qualitative research and its value in exploring the rich human experiences that arise in simulation-based education. While simulation-based education often uses numbers, scores, and performance metrics to measure outcomes, qualitative research helps us understand the experiences, meanings, and stories behind the data.

Participants will gain insight into how qualitative approaches can deepen understanding, support educational enquiry, and strengthen research in simulation practice.

📣 A practical starting point for anyone curious about qualitative research in simulation.

Who Should Attend

Educators, clinicians, researchers, students, and simulation practitioners interested in exploring and applying research in simulation-based education.

Workshop Details

• Level: Introductory
• Simulation Modality: All
• Maximum Participants: 20
• Hosted at: KN Cheung SK Chin InterSim Centre, Queen’s University Belfast

Why Attend?

• Develop an introductory understanding of qualitative research in simulation-based education
• Explore the benefits of looking beyond numbers and performance metrics
• Gain insight into how qualitative research can capture human experience and meaning
• Build confidence in taking first steps into research within simulation practice

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Workshop Introduction

Join us for this combined workshop to experience two complementary perspectives on living with health-related challenges.

Through immersive learning, participants will explore the everyday realities faced by people living with visual impairment and dementia. These experiences are designed to support empathy, reflection, and a deeper understanding of the barriers that can affect communication, independence, and access to care.

By stepping into these perspectives, participants will be encouraged to consider how healthcare, education, and wider environments can become more inclusive, supportive, and person-centred.

📣 Two immersive experiences, one powerful opportunity to see the world differently.

Workshop Experience 1

Seeing Differently: Using Empatheyes virtual reality to experience visual impairment

Using specialised Empatheyes virtual reality equipment, participants will explore the effects of common eye conditions on vision and daily activities.

This immersive virtual reality experience will demonstrate the effects of vision loss and the challenges this can create in everyday life, including reduced acuity, contrast sensitivity, glare, and altered colour perception.

Participants will also consider practical ways to improve accessibility in healthcare settings and in daily living.

Workshop Experience 2

Walking in their World: an immersive dementia experience

In this simulation experience, participants will walk in the world of a person living with dementia.

Through structured activities, participants will experience simulated changes in vision, hearing, circulation, and dexterity that can be associated with living with dementia.

This experience offers insight into the complexity of daily life for people living with dementia and encourages reflection on compassionate, person-centred support.

Who Should Attend

Healthcare professionals, educators, students, simulation practitioners, and members of the public interested in improving their understanding of the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals and people living with dementia.

Workshop Details

• Level: Suitable for all levels
• Simulation Modality: Virtual reality and immersive participatory simulation
• Maximum Participants: 20
• Format: Two groups of 10 participants
• Hosted at: KN Cheung SK Chin InterSim Centre, Queen’s University Belfast

Why Attend?

• Experience two complementary immersive perspectives within one workshop
• Develop greater empathy and understanding of lived health-related challenges
• Reflect on accessibility, inclusion, and person-centred care
• Explore how immersive simulation can support learning across a wide range of audiences

Presented by

Workshop Introduction

What does it take to successfully integrate immersive technology, simulation, and patient education within a real-world healthcare setting?

In this interactive workshop, participants will be guided through the journey of developing Ireland’s first immersive blended learning environment within a tertiary children’s hospital. The B-HIVE immersive blended learning environment represents an innovative approach to combining simulation, sensory environments, and interactive learning technologies in healthcare education.

Drawing on real-world implementation experience, participants will explore how immersive technologies can be successfully integrated into healthcare education and patient care environments.

📣 Experience Ireland’s first immersive blended learning environment in a tertiary children’s hospital.

Workshop Content

Participants will explore how immersive technologies, simulation, and sensory learning environments can be combined to enhance both healthcare education and patient experience.

Using practical examples from the B-HIVE immersive learning environment, the workshop will demonstrate how immersive technologies can be implemented within clinical education settings.

Participants will also have the opportunity to apply the IMMERSIVE framework to generate innovative ideas for developing immersive blended simulation environments within their own organisations.

Special Features

This workshop will take place off-site at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, allowing participants to experience the B-HIVE immersive blended simulation environment directly within its clinical setting.

The Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children is located a short distance from the conference venue, enabling participants to engage fully with the immersive learning environment developed by the SimEd team.

Who Should Attend

Simulation leads, clinical educators, programme directors, healthcare managers, faculty developers, and anyone interested in integrating emerging immersive technologies into healthcare education and patient care.

Workshop Details

• Level: Intermediate
• Simulation Modality: Immersive blended simulation environment
• Maximum Participants: 16
• Hosted at: Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children

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Workshop Introduction

In-situ simulation is rapidly emerging as a highly effective approach to improving team performance, strengthening systems learning, and enhancing patient safety.

However, developing this into an effective and sustainable programme within a busy clinical department can be challenging. This workshop explores how this can be successfully achieved.

Participants will gain insight into the development of the TRAUMED programme, a nationally recognised initiative designed to build educator expertise in in-situ trauma simulation.

📣 Learn how to build and sustain an effective in-situ trauma simulation programme.

Workshop Content

Using trauma as the simulation scenario, participants will explore the key components required to implement in-situ simulation programmes within healthcare environments.

The session will cover how to articulate a clear vision for in-situ simulation, engage key stakeholders, deliver psychologically safe pre-briefings, and facilitate simulation debriefings using the PEARLS framework.

Through a series of discussions and practical activities, participants will also identify common barriers to implementing in-situ simulation and develop realistic steps to begin introducing these programmes within their own departments.

Who Should Attend

Clinicians, educators, and simulation leads working in trauma, emergency medicine, anaesthesia, critical care, nursing, or allied health who are interested in developing or enhancing in-situ simulation programmes within their departments.

Workshop Details

• Level: Intermediate
• Simulation Modality: In-situ simulation
• Maximum Participants: 24
• Hosted at: KN Cheung SK Chin InterSim Centre, Queen’s University Belfast

Why Attend?

• Understand the core principles of in-situ simulation programmes
• Learn strategies for engaging stakeholders and building departmental support
• Develop skills in delivering psychologically safe pre-briefings and structured debriefings
• Identify barriers to implementation and practical ways to overcome them
• Gain confidence in beginning or expanding in-situ simulation in your own department

Presented by

Workshop Introduction

Are you interested in developing a student-led simulation initiative, but not quite sure where to begin?

This workshop will explore the potential benefits and challenges of developing interprofessional simulation clubs as an accessible and sustainable approach to supporting student and educator collaboration, teamwork, and interprofessional education.

Drawing on practical experience from the development and implementation of a successful student-led simulation club at Queen’s University Belfast, participants will consider how similar initiatives can be designed, introduced, and sustained within their own settings.

📣 Build your own practical blueprint for a student-led interprofessional simulation club.

Workshop Content

The workshop will consider a range of practical approaches to developing and implementing a student-led simulation club, with a particular focus on interprofessional education and collaborative learning.

Through small-group planning exercises, participants will explore the opportunities and challenges involved in setting up and sustaining a simulation club, including learner engagement, faculty support, accessibility, and long-term viability.

By the end of the session, participants will have contributed to the development of a ‘Build Your Own Simulation Club Blueprint’ that can support planning within their own institution or educational context.

Who Should Attend

This workshop is most relevant to healthcare students, trainees, educators, simulation faculty, and anyone interested in the development and implementation of interprofessional education and simulation initiatives.

Workshop Details

• Level: Introductory to Intermediate
• Simulation Modality: Interactive workshop
• Maximum Participants: 30
• Hosted at: KN Cheung SK Chin InterSim Centre, Queen’s University Belfast

Why Attend?

• Explore the benefits of student-led interprofessional simulation initiatives
• Consider practical challenges and how these can be addressed
• Learn from real experience of developing a successful simulation club
• Work collaboratively to create a practical blueprint for your own setting
• Gain ideas to support sustainable teamwork and interprofessional learning