53 © Te Author(s) 2019 K. Trimmer et al. (eds.), Ensuring Quality in Professional Education Volume I, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-01096-6_3 3 Simulating: Bridging the Gap Between Practice and Theory in Higher Professional Education Yngve Nordkvelle, Odd Rune Stalheim, Trine Fossland, Thomas de Lange, Anne Line Wittek, and Monika Bærøe Nerland Introduction Since Antiquity, the task of bridging the gap between what is considered theoretical and practical knowledge has troubled the world of teaching and learning (Daly & Higgins, 2011). Tis is especially true for higher professional programs, which typically rest on diferent forms of knowl- edge that must become integrated to be applicable in diferent work con- texts (Markauskaite & Goodyear, 2016). Doing simulations in diferent shapes and forms has been introduced as one way of making students connect between what is learnt in classrooms and what is applicable to Y. Nordkvelle • O. R. Stalheim Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Elverum, Norway T. Fossland UiT Te Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway T. de Lange • A. L. Wittek • M. B. Nerland (*) University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway e-mail: monika.nerland@iped.uio.no