Dani Gardner

Dani's HDR interests include Simulation Based Education, GenAI and Digital Technologies in Sim, and exploring the impact this may have on student nurses learning experiences and communication. These research interests align strongly with the universities focus towards being at the forefront of embracing artificial intelligence within teaching and learning, and she is passionate in developing interesting and innovating ways to use this technology in health, and healthcare education. 

In 2024 as part of the Higher Degree Research work, Dani and a cross-disciplinary team from the faculties of Health and Engineering the University of Technology Sydney collaborated on a pilot study with first year nursing students to determine feasibility of a scalable communication skills training platform using an AI generated chatbot that allows students to participate in therapeutic conversations with the simulated patient. When used at the bedside in the clinical lab setting, the team were able to use the AI chatbot as the voice of the manikin patient. Student feedback from this pilot study was overwhelming that the teaching and learning strategy enhanced the students’ overall experience in simulation, fuelled their clinical reasoning and critical thinking, and gave them more their confidence as they developed their cognitive and social communication skills.

Further studies of these technologies are planned for the Spring 2025 teaching session, with significant research output expected to follow from the data collected.

Dani will be presenting this work at the 2025 Simulation Australasia Congress in Adelaide, and the Council of Deans Nursing and Midwifery in Christchurch New Zealand later this year.