Designing a serious game for Finnish Defence Forces’ field nurses using Serious Instructional Design Model
Karila, Veli-Matti (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202504298181
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202504298181
Tiivistelmä
The objective of the study was to design a serious game for Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) field nurses using Serious Instructional Design Model (SIDM). The designed serious game was intended to improve systematic patient care, enhance decision-making, and promote structured communication in emergency situations.
The study was conducted as a design-based development project using the SIDM. The process consisted of five phases: Discovery, research and preparation, design, creation of a conceptual model, and finally game design document (GDD) presentation and finalization. In discovery phase, the learners (FDF field nurses) and their learning goals were identified. In research and preparation phase, suitable methods and strategies to reach the set learning goals were designed. The serious game was designed to be played in virtual reality (VR) environment benefiting of the previously designed FDF First Aid Station serious game as a platform. A scenario (motor vehicle crash) in which the players can train the identified learning needs was designed. During the design phase, the chosen methods and strategies were examined to guarantee their suitability to reach the set learning goals. The design phase was followed by creation of a GDD that can be used as a blueprint when coding the serious game. The final phase of the study was presentation of the GDD in an online workshop to a select audience followed by a survey.
A mixed-method survey was conducted at the end of the workshop session to gain insight on further improvements to the GDD and if the target audience deemed the serious game feasible for further development. The thematic analysis of the responses confirmed the relevance of the learning objectives and suggested additional content for future iterations. The GDD was then reviewed based on the survey findings.
It was concluded that SIDM provides a suitable framework for serious game development in military healthcare education. The study demonstrated that structural design processes and user engagement can lead to the development of pedagogically meaningful training tools. The GDD produced during the study enables further development of a serious game that addresses low-frequency, high-risk emergency care scenarios in a realistic and engaging format.
The study was conducted as a design-based development project using the SIDM. The process consisted of five phases: Discovery, research and preparation, design, creation of a conceptual model, and finally game design document (GDD) presentation and finalization. In discovery phase, the learners (FDF field nurses) and their learning goals were identified. In research and preparation phase, suitable methods and strategies to reach the set learning goals were designed. The serious game was designed to be played in virtual reality (VR) environment benefiting of the previously designed FDF First Aid Station serious game as a platform. A scenario (motor vehicle crash) in which the players can train the identified learning needs was designed. During the design phase, the chosen methods and strategies were examined to guarantee their suitability to reach the set learning goals. The design phase was followed by creation of a GDD that can be used as a blueprint when coding the serious game. The final phase of the study was presentation of the GDD in an online workshop to a select audience followed by a survey.
A mixed-method survey was conducted at the end of the workshop session to gain insight on further improvements to the GDD and if the target audience deemed the serious game feasible for further development. The thematic analysis of the responses confirmed the relevance of the learning objectives and suggested additional content for future iterations. The GDD was then reviewed based on the survey findings.
It was concluded that SIDM provides a suitable framework for serious game development in military healthcare education. The study demonstrated that structural design processes and user engagement can lead to the development of pedagogically meaningful training tools. The GDD produced during the study enables further development of a serious game that addresses low-frequency, high-risk emergency care scenarios in a realistic and engaging format.