Towards a Tasks-Interactions-Environment (TIE-SSG) Framework Guiding Integration of Serious Games in Education for Enhanced Practical, Clinical Competences

Clinical skills training is essential but resource-intensive for both educational programs and clinical placementsettings. While simulations and serious games (SSGs) show great potential in alleviating skill-training challenges by enablingflexible, interactive, and engaging learning situations in safe environments, difficulties remain in moving beyond their basicimplementation and use. The aim of this study is to explore and conceptualize the key elements that form the basis for theproposed Tasks-Interactions-Environment of Simulations and Serious Games (TIE-SSG) Framework. This work aims to initiatediscussions and generate ideas that can inform future efforts in developing and refining the proposed framework. The TIESSGframework is grounded in instructional scaffolding, and through consideration of these theories and an examination ofprevious literature, the fidelity (i.e., how closely a scenario or tool mirrors real-world conditions) of the SSGs was chosen asthe key factor for the framework. The fidelity term is examined and redefined specifically for introducing SSGs in the contextof teaching and learning, and is broken down into three dimensions: tasks, interactions, and environment. The paperillustrates the benefits of examining the fidelity of these dimensions separately, to help place SSGs within the students’learning pathway in a progressive manner. This approach enhances the understanding of how fidelity impacts learningoutcomes and provides valuable insights for designing practical learning tools. Future research will further explore how thisframework can be applied across diverse educational contexts.