Does a Community Health Simulation Enhance Student Learning More Than the Traditional Windshield Survey Approach?

American Sentinel University has developed a community health simulation entitled Sentinel City. From the comfort and safety of their own homes or offices, students participate in a simulated community health practice experience commonly known as the “Windshield Survey.” Students board a virtual city bus and assess the cityscape using a guided community health practice assignment. Students observe and report on key health characteristics while being transported on the bus or walking through diverse neighborhoods, assess ease of access to city amenities, perceived safety, availability of healthcare, access to transportation and various factors that support or detract from the residents’ overall health. Potential community health problems are identified and discussed through structured learning experiences. In this study three questions were asked:

Question #1: Does a windshield survey using the Sentinel City Bus lead to greater student mastery of the concepts vs. a traditional windshield survey? This question will be answered by comparing sections of students who completed the windshield survey using the Sentinel City Bus (experimental group) or using the traditional method – either driving or walking around a selected community (control group). Both groups of students will complete pre- and post-tests. The questions on the pre- and post-tests are the same, so an analysis of the data will show value added in terms of Windshield Survey knowledge, comfort, and concept mastery, as well as any differences that emerge between the Experimental and Control groups. An added benefit for the Experimental Group is that the researcher can analyze the time spent and locations viewed and correlate those data to grade(s) obtained in the Windshield Survey content – i.e. do students who get better grades perform differently in the Windshield Survey than students who get poorer grades?

Question #2: Does a windshield survey using the Sentinel City Bus lead to greater student satisfaction of the experience vs. a traditional windshield survey? This question will be answered by comparing sections of students who complete the windshield survey using the Sentinel City Bus (experimental group) or using the traditional method – either driving or walking around a selected community (control group). Analysis of end of course student surveys will show any student satisfaction differences that emerge between the experimental and control groups.

Question #3: Does a windshield survey using the Sentinel City Bus lead to greater faculty control of the concepts to be mastered by students vs. a traditional windshield survey? This question will be answered by faculty completing end of course faculty surveys that include questions addressing course development and/or preparation, assignment grading, discussion question preparation and grading, interacting with students, course content, etc. Analysis of the data will show any differences in perception of control of the windshield survey concepts between the faculty teaching the Experimental and the Control groups.

In the United States, there are over 650 schools of nursing at public and private institutions, with the vast majority having a windshield survey built into their curriculum. It is hypothesized that data from this study will show that students and faculty find the Sentinel City simulation experience to be a very positive one. Assessment analysis will also indicate that the simulation experience also has a very positive effect on student academic experiences. The Sentinel City Bus is a new tool that is being used in higher education to enhance student critical thinking, communication skills, and knowledge acquisition, and shows great promise in the enhancement of student learning.