Variations of Situated Learning Theory

Variations of situated learning theory
● Situated cognition and problem-based learning- This requires the creation of a problem
for the student to solve so that he can confront such situations in future (Handley et al.
2006). For instance, becoming accustomed with the new advancements in technology in
order to help the people.
● Project-based learning- It helps stimulate the experiences of the learners while
performing a job (Flynn, Jalali & Moreau, 2015). Students are given a task to perform
through which they get to learn new information about the task.
Application in healthcare
Situated learning makes the students more capable of handling the realistic situations.
Having prior, real experiences in medical setups, is a part of the curriculum of healthcare
education with situated learning. Due to this, the students are able to get a clearer picture of how
the staff works and how the activities are carried out. According to Dede et al. (2004), this cuts
off the time that would have otherwise been wasted on confusion or unprofessionalism. For
example, while performing an operation, students are allowed to witness the process so that
when they start their job they know how to handle the procedure and what steps to take
throughout the process.
Training tasks are fulfilled under the instructions given by the instructors, students are
able to do it more independently the next time (Barsom, Graafland & Schijven, 2016). This is
necessary in healthcare as it saves time for acting up. Giving necessary first aid before a
treatment is one of the examples where the independence of the student remains of utmost
importance.
They are used to doing the tough work. In healthcare, new students are often
overwhelmed or heartbroken over the bad news they witness or have to deliver (Egan & Jaye,
2009). For instance, delivering the news of stage four cancer to a patient or breaking the news to
a man about his wife who died on the operation table. Things like these becomes easier with
practice.
The students have less difficulty in blending into their new workplace. Hean, Craddock &
O’Halloran (2009) mentioned that they are already aware of the customs and behavior to