Bonding, Bridging, and Linking: Investigating Collaborative Approaches Towards Expanding the Representation of African American and Latinx Students Pursuing Graduate Study in STE

People of Spanish-speaking origin with limited English proficiency is an increasing demographic in many U.S. communities. This group faces language and cultural barriers that affect access to quality healthcare and patient safety. The best way to reduce these barriers is to promote direct bilingual interaction between healthcare professionals and their patients. My research supports this goal through the development and implementation of a Virtual Patient Based Learning Model (VPBLM) as a platform to promote second language learning in a complex Spanish for Healthcare Professionals program. The VPBLM features voice-recognition and virtual patient technical innovations along with student-centered learning strategies derived from the theoretical framework of engagement theory and the motivation-based design principles of A ttention, Relevance, Confidence, and Satisfaction (ARCS) model. The results of my research after implementation of design-based research methodology show that the VPBLM offered value and motivation to students learning Spanish and cultural competency with implications for application across broader educational contexts.