I was first introduced to the technology H5P, when it was added as a plug in to my institutions learning management system (LMS) about two years ago. Initially I found it fulfilled a gap of replacing slideshow review activities that used technology that was now behind a paywall and limited the number of slides I could use for free (iSpring Solutions, n.d.). There are about 40 different types of content you can create with H5P so it can be overwhelming!\u00a0 Some of the content is as simple as a flash card review or as complex as interactive video or branching scenarios (H5P, 2021b).<\/p>\n
I narrowed my interest to branching scenarios using video simulation games (VSG) when attending a four-day workshop put on by CAN-Sim, an organization that has been creating and doing research on nursing simulation scenarios and VSG for years. Primarily, their focus is on creating activities for reinforcing prior knowledge in a more realistic scenario (CAN-Sim, n.d., Kaufman & Ireland, 2016). This helps student nurses to better prepare for real life situations in a safe learning environment. The workshop resulted in the creation of a VSG using their research informed templates. Can Sim use software called Articulate Storyline 360. This software is subscription based and expensive-about $1299 USD per user, annually (Articulate, 2021)! \u00a0I realized that H5P could be a free and easily sharable option to purchased software. It also has the potential to be a fully digitally accessible learning event (H5P, 2021a).<\/p>\n
The downsides, as we discovered in our team research is that of the H5P content options, the branching scenario is complex, containing a lot of information and takes a large amount of time to build a near true to life, authentic scenario (French, 2021). The Articulate software, while costing money, does have good templates to use that save the content builder some work and time. You also need a place to host H5P content such as an LMS, WordPress, or Pressbook, (H5P, 2021b).<\/p>\n
What I like best about H5P is the share-ability. I built the below scenario using my LMS plug in as a reinforcement activity based on true life events very quickly (so not that integrative, no video) as part of pandemic pivot in the summer of 2020. \u00a0Because I set it to fully sharable, I have been able to embed it into multiple course shells in my LMS which is not easy to do with other type of LMS content. I can also easily share it here in WordPress!\u00a0 There is also potential for students to be involved in co-creating learning experiences as referenced in Killam & Luctkar-Flude (2021). There is some learning curve, which I do not find too bad based on my experience with building content on an LMS, but the technology adaptation my be dauting to some.<\/p>\n
Overall, I would like to learn more about constructing high fidelity, authentic scenarios, like Can Sim VSG but for x-ray specific content. I have very large dreams of creating some repository for use across varies x-ray programs. I welcome your input on how H5P. Have you used it? Is it useful in your context?<\/p>\n