UW SimLab’s mission is to provide practitioners with realistic, structure, evaluative simulation experiences that mirror consequential real-world situations, so that they develop or demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to navigate these situations effectively.
SimLab personnel are initially directing attention to education-based situations, then strategically expanding to adjacent domains that also demand new professionals’ proven skills in challenging situations.
The team seeks to bring transformative change to professional training. Rather than relying on idiosyncratic field-based placements for learning skilled professional practices, SimLab uses modern assessment design, AI, and evidence-based professional learning approaches to provide learning environments that can be controlled and studied.
SimLab supports the development of multidisciplinary professionals’ inclusive and evidence-based professional practices. Helping instructors and researchers develop, use, and analyze interaction-based tasks for instructional and research purposes encourages these professionals’ exploration, professional self-efficacy, understanding of professional practice, and capability in enacting transformative skills.