Preparing for Cross-Cultural Experiential Learning Through Simulation Exercises

Introduction: Cultural humility and management of ethical and safety dilemmas are critical competencies for learners preparing to integrate into new communities through experiential learning. Didactic teaching imparts theoretical knowledge but fails to replicate the real-time discomfort of practical scenarios. The Ethical and Cultural Simulation exercise was designed to address this gap by having participants master one case scenario, then serve as facilitators for peers who role-play the learner. Cases addressed requests to work beyond one’s scope of practice, harassment by street vendors, sexual advances, and situations that conflict with personal ethics.  Methods: A survey was administered immediately following the simulation. Four scenarios comprised the exercise: (A) Requests for financial aid, (B) Learning from Community Members in Culturally Appropriate Ways, (C) Flycatchers, Personal Safety, and Sexual Advances, and (D) Scope of Practice and Avoiding Negative Impact on the Community. For each scenario, participants rated perceived utility, identified elements of usefulness and limitation, and reported potential applicability in Tanzania. A follow-up survey will be administered immediately after the experiential placement, prompting students to reflect on situations where they recalled their simulation learning. They will indicate whether that knowledge did/did not assist them in managing the immediate cultural/ethical situation. Results: For Case A, 33% of participants considered the exercise slightly or moderately useful, whereas 66% deemed it very or extremely useful. Cases B, C, and D each had 43% of participants reporting the exercise as slightly or moderately useful, with the remainder describing it as very or extremely useful. Post-trip data will elucidate whether these early perceptions translate into practical value during the subsequent experiential learning component. Preliminary observations suggest that role-play simulation prior to experiential placements may strengthen students’ cultural and ethical sensitivity in real-world settings. Continued investigation could further illuminate best practices for integrating simulation-based exercises into cross-cultural experiential learning curricula.