Simulation & Virtual Simulation in the Early Years
The Region of Durham’s Child Care and Early Years division would like to complete a rapid review of the literature, specifically for the use of simulation and virtual simulation to build the capacity or early learning and child-care's educators.
Host Department: Social Services
Type of Collaboration: An unpaid practicum/placement student hosted at the Region, or
A graduate research project, or open to collaboration.
Anticipated Outcome: A completed Rapid Review document that explores how mixed-reality virtual simulations impact the efficacy of early childhood educators to support the development of social competence and emotional maturity in preschool children within Durham Region.
Potential research questions include:
- How has simulation and virtual simulation been used in the early learning sector?
- If simulation has been used:
- Who were the participants in the simulations?
- How were the simulations designed? Did they use co-production/co-design?
- What were the learning objectives of the simulations?
- What did the researchers measure?
Deliverables: Literature Scan
Timeline: 4 months
Desired Start Date: Summer Semester 2026