Technology Spotlight: ActivExpression Response System

Secret ballots are a good way to encourage clinical simulation learners to contribute to group sessions without the pressure of potentially giving a wrong answer in front of the group. The Promethean ActivExpression Learner Response System is one way of introducing secret ballots into a clinical simulation education programme.

The system comprises 32 handheld units wirelessly linked to the ActivInspire software on a computer. These units are distributed among learners to allow them to anonymously answer and vote on questions, with the responses being displayed in a graph after voting closes.

The response system came into play in a trial session delivered to preregistration nursing students. Students made visits to a child in a simulated ward environment in pairs every 15 minutes before returning to the debriefing room, where the whole group would vote on their next actions with the ActivExpression handsets. Students could choose from five options: ‘Do nothing and reassess later’, ‘Get help’, ‘Give medication’, ‘Carry out a procedure’ and ‘More tests/information needed’. The most popular option was then carried out by the next pair of students to enter the ward environment.

On reflection, the students benefited from the decision making process and observing the implications of their clinical judgements. However, with the options available to the students it seemed that they erred on the side of caution and decided to ‘get help’ rather than think of themselves as the qualified nurse. Going forward, more prescriptive scenarios will be developed which will allow for a broader selection of questions and more diverse interactions from the students.

This system is an excellent learning resource and will be incorporated into future curricular development.