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Nordic Network for simulation-based training and professional learning (SimPro)
Through innovative and interdisciplinary research, the Nordic network SimPro investigates technology-supported simulation-based training in bachelor-level education in different professional fields, such as maritime navigation, healthcare, and teacher training.
Despite structural similarities between fields, there are significant differences in how simulation-based training is implemented and used in practical training and assessment practices. For instance, in maritime bachelor education, simulators are used for certifying technical skills i.e., to formally qualify for international competence requirements for the industry whereas in bachelor-level teacher education, simulators are used for preparations before the start of practice periods in schools. Recently, new simulation technologies have entered the healthcare domain though highly immersive virtual reality technologies. Building full-scale hospital departments with digital mannequins, nurse students can simulate realistic scenarios to train for crisis, collaboration across medical domains, prepare and further refine students’ professional competence before and after hospital practice. Hence, simulation-based exercises can take many forms, from the acquisition of specific technical skills to more complex training designs. In the class of events usually described as ‘full-scale simulations’ of multifaceted events the aim in not just to learn what should happen, but also why and how to the competent professional should cope with challenges, thereby allowing students to cultivate their contextual understanding of a given activity.
The overall aim of the SimPro network is to advance our understanding of simulation-based training across professional settings in ways that can improve the quality of simulation-based training. We believe that this goal only can be attained by problematizing and creating connections between education and the workplace, advancing knowledge about the relationship between simulation design, simulation practice and learning outcomes. Hence, an objective is to explicate how simulations are operationalized across different educational contexts and how educators mobilize simulation-based teaching methods in their educational practices. Our second objective is to investigate the interplay between the theories and beliefs that underpin simulation-based training to become a competent professional in different fields. Through continuous interdisciplinary dialogue, this network problematizes and creates connections between theoretical knowledge and practical applications across professional fields characterized by an otherwise fragmented knowledgebase. The Nordic Network SimPro is funded by the Swedish Research council between 2024 and 2026.
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Steering group meetings
In order to ensure continuous network activities and facilitate collaboration between network partners, the steering group meet at a monthly basis via Zoom.
SimPro workshops
The workshops will focus on collaborative work with researchers, PhDs, instructors, operators and facilitators on experiences and knowledge of simulator-based training and assessment, grant and article writing, text seminars around ongoing publications, and data sessions.
The SimPro Conference
The International Conference on Analyzing practices and advancing pedagogies for professional learning (SimPro) is an annual conference hosted by Department of Applied IT, University of Gothenburg. The aim of the SimPro conference is to “open the black box” of practice and direct the analytical focus to what takes place when people are training together and reflect on simulations, bringing together research on simulation-based training from several professional domains.
The SimPro reading group
The reading group is an important part of the research environment fostered in the SimPro network. The reading group focus on the dissemination of research through regular seminars where classical literature on the theoretical foundations SimPro draws on, i.e., situated, distributed, and embodied theories of learning, are discussed, and reflected on in the context of simulation.
The Nordic network is led by Principal Investigator Charlott Sellberg, Associate professor at University of Gothenburg/University of Oslo and a steering group consisting of coordinators from each of the participating universities: Professor Oskar Lindwall, University of Gothenburg (UGOT). Aud Marit Wahl, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), A. Camilla Wiig, associate professor, University of South-Eastern Norway (USN) and Marcus Samuelsson, associate professor, Linköping University (LiU). The Nordic Network SimPro also include researchers from University of Oslo as well as University of Oulo/University of Helsinki.
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Partner |
Role |
Assoc. Prof. Charlott Sellberg |
Principal Investigator |
UGOT Prof. Oskar Lindwall |
GU Team Coordinator |
Sr. Prof. Roger Säljö |
Network member |
Sr. Prof. Hans Rystedt |
Network member |
Asst. Prof. Elin Nordenström |
Network member |
Post doc. Hanna Svensson |
Network member |
Post doc. Susan Harrington |
Network member |
NTNU Assoc. Prof. Aud Marit Wahl |
NTNU Team Coordinator |
Assoc. Prof. Marte F. Giskeødegård |
Network member |
Assoc. Prof. Helen Berg |
Network member |
Assoc. Prof. Mads Solberg |
Network member |
Assoc. Prof. Ann-Kristin Tveten |
Network member |
Asst. Prof. Sahar Olsen |
Network member |
Assoc. Prof. Stine Gundrosen |
Network member |
PhD. Candidate Wenche Lervik |
Network member |
PhD. Candidate Ellen Bjørge Ekse |
Network member |
PhD. Candidate Anastasia Skarpeti |
Network member |
USN Assoc. Prof. Astrid Camilla Wiig |
USN Team Coordinator |
PhD Candidate William C. Gyldensten |
Network member |
PhD Candidate Mari Auby Starup |
Network member |
PhD Candidate Lynn Dittrich |
Network member |
Assoc. Prof. Hilde Solli |
Network member |
Asst. Prof. Inger Åse Reierson |
Network member |
Asst. Prof. Ingunn Lia |
Network member |
Asst. Prof. Carmen Gabriella Dorthee Louwerens |
Network member |
LiU Assoc. Prof. Marcus Samuelsson |
LiU Team Coordinator |
Prof Joakim Samuelsson |
Network member |
Asst. Prof. Anja Thorsten |
Network member |
Senior lecturer P-O Hansson |
Network member |
Senior lecturer Cecilia Sveider |
Network member |
Senior lecturer Sofia Kvist Lindholm |
Network member |
Assoc. Prof. David Ludvigsson |
Network member |
University of Oslo Prof. Ingvill Rasmussen |
Network member |
Prof. Crina Damsa |
Network member |
University of Oulu and University of Helsinki Prof. Anu Kajamaa |
Network member |