Designing tag team patient safety simulation: An instructional design approach

Tag Team Patient Safety Simulation (TTPSS) draws on cognitive, social, and constructivist theoretical perspectives to inform and provide contemporary simulation teaching practice that address the challenges associated with providing large numbers of learners with engaging simulation experiences. In doing so, TTPSS fosters critical conversations about patient safety that empower students and build resilience. Popularity of the method has seen its use extend from clinically based education addressing the Australian National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards to broader application of theoretical concepts informing practice internationally. The success of the method lies in understanding the theoretical perspectives informing design and the careful construction and alignment of methodological attributes that come together to facilitate learning. This discussion paper adds to the scholarship of simulation by describing the underpinning theoretical foundations of the methodology and offers a design framework to facilitate constructive alignment and guide the development of quality learning experiences using this methodology. This paper translates the principles of learning and instruction that apply to TTPSS materials, activities, resources, and evaluation and provides direction to those seeking to design effective educational simulations using the TTPSS methodology.