Résumé
The aim of this contribution is to produce knowledge on observation activity during a high-fidelity simulation session (HFS) as part of initial maieutics training. This activity remains a gray area both from a scientific point of view and from the point of view of training, whereas it is standard practice during initial health professions training. Observation makes it possible to respond to the constraint of training a large number of students, by using a pedagogical device that is not too time-consuming and which takes advantage of the video equipment and SHF rooms, in accordance with the French high authority of health (HFS)) recommendations. This study falls within the theoretical framework of 'course of action' (Theureau, 2004, 2006), in order to analyze the observation activity of five midwife students, during a module of several HFS sessions. This epistemological framework makes it possible to consider the observers' point of view in order to gain a better understanding of their activity, partly silent, as well as its transformative potential. Data analysis constructed from the videos of the observation situations and self-confrontation interviews show that the observation activity a) is collegially organized as if it were a game, with the indeterminations of the situation being considered as a stake and b) is accompanied by major and/or projected transformative processes which relate to professional practice and which are also specific to simulation. The playful generic appropriation of the viewing environment and its potential for learning-development thus make it possible to define it as a fun and utilitarian video sphere of the training program.