Projects & Initiatives

Simulation Laboratory Innovates MLS Program Training

Diagrams and power point presentations have been replaced by real-life technology as part of a new simulation lab introduced to Red River College’s Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS) training curriculum for biochemistry. This innovative teaching approach offers students a more dynamic learning experience and better prepares them for both their on-site practicum and the workforce.

“The controlled environment of the simulation lab allows students to explore the instrument software, do their own calibrations, then run controls and samples,” said Joanne Goldstone, DSM Clinical Instructor.

The clinical setting presents the pressures of large sample throughput and short turn around time expectations forcing students to focus on running tests without the luxury of simulating and fixing problems.

“In the simulated environment students are not required to do things quickly. They can explore, discover and even make mistakes while learning.”

As of March 2011, second year students in Winnipeg spend a week in the simulation lab as part of the 11-week biochemistry practicum which takes place within an actual DSM facility. Students learn how the instrument works, in this case the Roche cobas c311 analyzer, how to maintain it, basic troubleshooting and the applied theory required for CSMLS competencies. This knowledge base allows students to make more of their clinical experience, increasing focus on specific lab processes and sample data interpretation.

Goldstone said students begin their clinical placement with greater confidence.
“I was surprised that by just changing the way you teach and how you present your information, you can dramatically alter how we, the students, perceive the topic and our recall ability,” said Anthony Villanueva, med lab technologist in training who was part of the first group to trial the simulation equipment.

The combination of applied use of the instrument itself and hands-on tasks, such as using labeled post-it notes to identify the parts of the instrument, kept students actively involved in learning.

The simulation training program was developed by Goldstone and Roche Application Specialist Dr. Boris Zielinski. Goldstone’s expertise and student-educator perspective, combined with Zielinski’s humour-injected ‘less talk, more doing’ methods created an enjoyable and practical yet challenging curriculum that has proven successful.

“The activities stimulated our minds and made us think instead of just absorb,” said Villanueva. “Instead of asking what we would do in a situation, the situation was created and we were asked to fix it.”

The introduction of simulated training to the med lab sciences program was the vision of DSM’s former CEO, Dr. Jim Dalton, who realized that a solution was needed to address the challenges that the labs faced in providing adequate practicum training.

“Students were coming into very busy, highly automated labs and staff did not have as much time to stop and train them or give the students time to play around with the analyzers the way they once did,” explained Dalton. “We needed something to give them the skills which would allow them to very quickly move into the operational lab and contribute to the work.”

Dalton approached several vendors and as one of DSM’s major suppliers, Roche took interest in the project. As they had not previously provided education to the student audience they were keen on working with DSM to develop this training.

“As a pilot project, this program has demonstrated that a simulation lab provides a very valuable learning environment that allows transfer of knowledge to a clinical site,” said Goldstone noting that although the simulation training was specific to biochemistry, the introduction of these teaching methods could benefit students in all areas of their clinical training.

Based on students’ positive response and the support of Red River College, DSM is hopeful that simulation teaching can be expanded to other disciplines in the future.

“As our clinical laboratories become increasingly busy and complex, simulation is a viable and valuable complement to the training the students are receiving on-site.”

Back to Projects