Situated Simulation-Based Learning Environment to Improve Proportional Reasoning

• In Event: 34.078 - Roundtable Session 13
  In Roundtable Session: 34.078-15 - Promoting Learning in the Disciplines With New Technologies

Abstract

Proportion reasoning, which forms the basis for medication calculation, is vital for high quality care and patient safety. Therefore, we have designed Situated Medication Mathematics (SiMM) environment which support the learning of proportional reasoning through successively abstract mediators- digitally simulated nursing objects and ratio-table.
The study was a quasi-experimental controlled pre-test-intervention-post-test-design. Participants were nursing students (N=168): 72 students in comparison group who learned with a lecture based approach and 96 in experimental group who learned with SiMM environment.
Main findings reveal that learning with SiMM is most efficient in understanding of intensive quantities – concentration and drip-rate, which demands formal operations, a multiplicative thinking. Moreover, we have shown that through situated mediators the abstract proportional reasoning can be enhanced.

Authors

• Ilana Dubovi, Utah State University

• Sharona T. Levy, University of Haifa