Active Learning Strategies...Not for the Birds!

Abstract

Nursing students historically have struggled to learn a large amount of content in a short period of time. Reliance on intense memorization of endless facts from multiple textbook chapters is ineffective, exhausting, and generally does not result in knowledge retention. Nursing educators face the challenge of facilitating learning that promotes critical thinking through the use of strategies that actively engage the students. Creating an environment of learning where students come prepared to class and use the textbook material to enhance understanding and knowledge acquisition is imperative. This article presents active learning strategies that are flexible for varying class sizes, time availability, and topics. Classroom assessment techniques support the value of this teaching-learning approach.

Using Games to Provide Interactive Perioperative Education

“…Active learning techniques are experiential. In other words, learning improves when it involves a personal experience that includes audio, visual, tactile (ie, psychomotor), and social styles of learning 1‐16 . In active learning, the focus of the process shifts from being solely that of the teacher's or presenter's point of view and educational process to include the learner's or attendee's point of view and process.…”

“…Educators use active learning approaches to keep data fresh and interesting, promote information retention, and stimulate critical thinking. This is especially important when the subject is complex or tedious 1‐15,17‐19 . Educators consider some established and familiar techniques, such as group discussions or laboratory practice, to be innovative teaching strategies because they provide alternatives to lecture presentations 4,5,9‐13 .…”

“…This is especially important when the subject is complex or tedious 1‐15,17‐19 . Educators consider some established and familiar techniques, such as group discussions or laboratory practice, to be innovative teaching strategies because they provide alternatives to lecture presentations 4,5,9‐13 . The use of games to teach, learn, and reinforce a subject or course material is one example of an innovative teaching strategy that promotes active learning and critical thinking 1‐5,9‐20 …”

Improved Knowledge Retention Among Clinical Pharmacy Students Using an Anthropology Classroom Assessment Technique

“…3,6 Although CAT examples are described in the literature, including the arena of Allied Health, most offer anecdotal support of their impact rather than sufficient, well-articulated detail to determine objective, outcomerelated changes. [8][9][10] A study by Wise is one exception, describing the process and impact of implementing the muddiest point CAT in a 2-hour lecture-based course in physical therapy for third-year students. 11 Confidentially completed evaluations showed significant improvements in student perception of the course and instructor when a CAT was administered throughout the semester compared to previous semesters, when no CAT was used.…”

Innovative infection prevention and control teaching for nursing students: a personal reflection

“…It is, he believes, dependent on the development of novel forms of organisational structures while carefully enhancing the pedagogical principles. Active learning strategies can be created in order to promote critical thinking through engaging students, sharing ideas and being imaginative ( Bowles, 2006 ). The pedagogical emphasis of interaction provides the opportunity for students to engage in self-directed learning and continual active participation with both fellow students and the educator.…”