Debriefing as epistemic engineering: conversational remembering and socially distributed metacognition in healthcare simulation

Abstract This study aims to deepen the theoretical foundations of debriefing in simulation-based pedagogy. By applying distributed cognition (DCog), we analyse a case of a simulation debriefing with nursing students. Using transcribed excerpts from video recordings, our cognitive ethnography shows how debriefing conversations function as a coordination device for two key processes: joint conversational remembering and distributed metacognition. According to our model, debriefing conversations coordinate a cascade of representations of simulated events. This cascade enables participants to engage reflexively with past actions, transforming these into shared learning opportunities. Reframing the trajectory of public representation in debriefing conversations in terms of DCog reveals new insights into the cognitive consequences of debriefing practices and how they can be developed. We highlight the importance of enabling multiple viewpoints and shared cognitive resources for epistemic outcomes, while also challenging students’ assumptions and foster critical thinking skills.