Getting Started with SIMVANA: Instructor Onboarding Guide

Welcome to SIMVANA! This guide walks you through five steps to get ready for your first class—from activating your account to reviewing student progress.

You can complete the steps at your own pace or follow along with our onboarding email series. If you’re waiting for hardware or your students haven’t started yet, simply return to those steps when you’re ready.

1. Activate your account

We create your SIMVANA account ahead of time. You activate it by creating your password through the password recovery page.

1. Visit the account activation page.
2. Enter the email address associated with your SIMVANA account.
3. Select Request Recovery code.
4. Keep the recovery window open while you check your email in another tab or window.
5. Enter the one-time code and select Submit Code.
6. Create your password and select Reset Password.
7. Visit the User Portal and log in to confirm your account is ready.

If the code doesn’t arrive, allow a few minutes and check your spam folder. If you close the recovery window, restart the process.

You’re ready for the next step when: You can log into the User Portal with your email and password.

2. Build your first lesson plan

A lesson plan gives your students a set of SIMVANA content that matches your curriculum. Start with a few scenarios for an upcoming class—you can add more later.

1. Log into the User Portal.
2. Select LESSON PLANNING under Instructor Tools, or open Lesson Planning directly.
3. Select the cohort you want to create a plan for using the upper-right dropdown.
4. Click + in the Sections panel to create a section.
5. Select the section title to give it a name and, optionally, a due date.
6. Expand the cards in the Learning Content panel to browse available scenarios.
7. Drag relevant scenarios into your section.
8. Click the Save icon.

Once saved, the lesson plan will appear in the VR app for learners in that cohort.

Each cohort can have one lesson plan at a time. If sections already appear when you select your cohort, a plan already exists. Review it before making changes.

You’re ready for the next step when: You’ve saved a lesson plan with content that supports your teaching goals.

For more help, see:

• Creating Lesson Plans

• Editing Lesson Plans

3. Prepare your headsets

Before your first session, make sure each headset is ready and has the correct SIMVANA app installed.

If you’re receiving new hardware

1. Once your hardware arrives, complete any remaining headset setup.
2. Connect the headset to Wi-Fi.
3. Charge the headset and check controller batteries if you’ll be using controllers.
4. Check whether your SIMVANA app is already installed.

New to VR? Our Virtual Reality Primer introduces the headset menus, controllers, and hand tracking.

If you need to install SIMVANA

1. Open the Store on the headset.
2. Search for your institution’s app: SIMVANA Nursing or SIMVANA Anesthesia.
3. Select and install the app.
4. Open it from the headset’s application library.

If your institution manages headsets through a device management service, coordinate installation with your device administrator.

Check that you’re ready to use the app

1. Set up a clear play area and an appropriate VR boundary.
2. Launch SIMVANA.
3. Log in using your activated SIMVANA account.
4. Confirm you can reach the app’s main menu.

You’re ready for the next step when: Your headsets are prepared, SIMVANA is installed, and you can log in.

For more help, see:

• Installing SIMVANA VR Applications

•  Log in to SIMVANA VR Apps.

4. Get familiar with the experience

A little practice will help you feel comfortable guiding students through their first session.

1. Launch SIMVANA on the headset and log in.
2. Find and complete the tutorial scenarios.
3. Practice navigating menus and interacting with objects.
4. Try a few scenarios that relate to your lesson plan.
5. Note any actions you’d like to demonstrate to students before they begin.

To launch content from the main menu:

1. Browse the available modules and categories.
2. Select a scenario.
3. Select Begin in the bottom-right corner.

Assigned lesson plans appear to the right of the main menu. Learners can select a scenario from their plan and choose Begin.

You’re ready for the next step when: You can start a scenario and help students with basic navigation and interactions.

For more help, see:

• Navigating Learning Content in VR

• SIMVANA Nursing Controls

• SIMVANA Anesthesia Controls

5. Review learner progress

Once students begin using SIMVANA, use the User Portal to check their activity and see where they may need support.

1. Log into the User Portal.
2. Open the Section Progression Dashboard.
3. Filter by the cohort, lesson plan section, and timeframe you want to review.
4. Check completion information to see which assigned content students have finished.
5. Review learner activity, including session count, time spent, and most recent activity.
6. Follow up with students who may need help getting started or additional practice.

Start with three questions:

• Who has started?
• What have they completed?
• Who would benefit from a check-in?

Use these findings to guide class discussions, plan additional practice, and adjust your lesson plan as needed. If students haven’t started yet, return to this step after their first session.

You’ve completed this step when: You know how to find your cohort’s progress and use it to guide student support.

For more detail, see the Section Progression guide.

Your onboarding checklist

1. Activate your account and test your portal login.
2. Remind students to activate their accounts.
3. Create and save your first lesson plan.
4. Prepare your headsets and confirm SIMVANA launches.
5. Complete the tutorials and explore relevant scenarios.
6. Review learner progress after students begin.

Need a hand?

We’re happy to help! Email support@simvana.com or submit a support ticket.

Include which app you’re using—SIMVANA Nursing, SIMVANA Anesthesia, or the User Portal—and a brief description of where you need help.