Glossary
This glossary explains the key terms used in SimFlow. Use it to quickly understand the terminology used across the platform and its documentation.
A
Assessment
The stage where a student’s performance is reviewed after completing a simulation. It includes the student’s overall performance and personalised feedback across different areas.
Assessment Report
The detailed assessment output generated after a simulation. It can include the student’s overall performance, personalised feedback, strengths, development areas, and rubric-aligned commentary. Where enabled, an assessment report can include quantitative grading, qualitative feedback, and emotional sentiment analysis.
C
Character
The person or case a student interacts with during a simulation. Each simulation is built around a Character that provides the context and responds to the student during the conversation.
Closed Library
An organisation-specific library that is only available to that organisation. Closed libraries can include custom scenarios created for a specific training need or use case.
Cohort
A defined group of students, such as a class, intake, or placement group. A cohort can be assigned access to specific libraries available to the organisation.
Condition
Describes the main situation, issue, topic, presentation, or circumstance featured within the scenario. This can relate to a clinical condition, but may also describe a non-clinical challenge, behaviour, event, or area of focus.
Custom Library
A library created by an organisation to organise specific Characters and make selected simulations available to its learners. A custom library starts empty, so Characters need to be added before learners can access the simulations included in it.
Custom Scenario
A scenario personally developed by the SimFlow team for a specific organisation or use case. It can be tailored to reflect your geography, working environment, and domain expertise within both the simulation and assessment, and can include a bespoke assessment report.
You’ll complete a scenario template and may discuss your requirements with the SimFlow team so they can understand how you plan to use it. Before the custom scenario is delivered, the team carries out human-led auditing and stress-testing to ensure it behaves as expected.
D
Documentation Task
A Documentation Task is a Workflow activity that requires the learner to produce a written response or record based on the simulation they have completed. It can be used to assess how effectively the learner translates information from the interaction into clear, accurate and appropriately structured documentation.
E
Emotional Sentiment Analysis
Where enabled, emotional sentiment analysis provides insights into the tone of a student’s interaction during a simulation. It can highlight moments where the conversation may have become more tense, reassuring, uncertain, or empathetic.
F
Filter Categories
Filters help learners and educators quickly find relevant simulations by narrowing the scenario library using key descriptors. SimFlow scenarios can be filtered by Subspeciality, Condition, and Task to identify simulations that match specific learning needs.
L
Library
A collection of Characters that gives learners access to selected simulations. Libraries can organise simulations for a particular organisation, learner group, or training purpose.
See also: [Add Simulations to a Library], [Manage Libraries]
Library Manager
The area of SimFlow used to organise and manage libraries, including the Characters included in them.
O
Open Library
A large library of scenarios that continues to grow and is available to organisations that work with SimFlow.
P
Post-Brief
The reflection stage after a student completes a simulation. The student can reflect on what went well, what could have gone better, and what they would like to improve next time.
Pre-Brief
The stage before the simulation where the student reflects on what they learned from the Pre-Reading, what they feel confident about, and what they want to develop further.
Pre-Reading
Learning material provided to the student before a simulation to help them prepare for the scenario.
Q
Qualitative Report
A detailed written assessment of a student’s performance. It provides personalised feedback focused on the task in the scenario and can include commentary across Information Gathering and Communication, using examples from the transcript where applicable.
Quantitative Grading
A numerical or categorical grade assigned according to an organisation’s scoring criteria, such as pass/fail, 4 out of 5, or 85%. Where quantitative grading is not required, the assessment can state that a grade was not assigned for the teaching exercise.
R
RealTime
A simulation mode where the student completes the simulation as a live, real-time conversation with the Character, responding to the interaction as it happens.
Rubric
A structured marking or feedback framework used to assess a student’s performance against criteria such as clarity, empathy, structure, or safety.
S
Scenario Information
The case or situation behind a simulation. It sets the context and defines elements such as the Character, goals, and challenges the student needs to handle (e.g., breaking bad news, handling a complaint, safeguarding).
SimCall
A simulation mode where the student experiences the scenario as a real phone call. The student calls the SimFlow number and enters the unique access code shown on screen.
Simulation
A live practice session where you interact with an AI Character to practice a specific scenario.
Simulation Credit
A simulation credit is a unit used to run a simulation. Each time you start a simulated conversation with an AI Character, one simulation credit is used.
SimVoice
A structured simulation mode where the student holds the space bar to speak and takes turns with the Character, giving them time to think between responses.
Student
A learner who uses SimFlow to complete simulations and receive feedback on their performance. Students can be organised into cohorts, assigned access to libraries, and have their completed assessments reviewed by authorised users.
Subspecialty
Describes the professional, subject, service, or area of practice most relevant to the scenario. This may be clinical, such as General Practice or Psychiatry, or non-clinical, such as Leadership, Education, Customer Service, or Safeguarding.
T
Task
Describes the main activity, skill, or type of interaction the learner is expected to practise during the scenario. This could include activities such as history taking, de-escalation, giving feedback, managing conflict, interviewing, handover, or handling a complaint.
Transcript
A text and audio record of what was said during a simulation. It allows you to review the conversation between the student and the Character and understand how the interaction progressed.
W
Workflow
A Workflow is the structured learning journey a learner progresses through in SimFlow, combining activities such as Pre-Reading, Pre-Brief, Simulation, Documentation, Transcript review, Assessment and Post-Brief.
With Workflow Builder (coming soon Nov. 2026), organisations will be able to create custom sequences containing up to three simulations, with the option to pass conversation context between simulations to create connected, progressive learning experiences.
Workflow Node
A Workflow Node is an individual step or activity within a Workflow, such as Pre-Reading, Pre-Brief, Simulation, Documentation, Transcript, Assessment or Post-Brief. Nodes can be arranged in a defined order to create a structured learning pathway tailored to specific educational objectives.