Contrary to surface learning, which consists of passive approaches to reproducing information such as memorization, deep learning strives to promote active learning in order to understand and create new meaning by transforming knowledge. Nurse educators must understand that deep learning is a process of exploration, discovery, and growth that allows the student to link learned concepts with experiences and suggests that with repetition and practice, information from the short term memory transfers to the long-term memory for future use. Students are then able to retrieve the meaning and relevance of the information in the long term memory and apply it to practice in both familiar and unfamiliar situations.
The profession of nursing requires a nurse to be able to apply clinical reasoning, clinical judgment and critical thinking skills in order to provide safe, quality patient care. By fostering deep learning throughout their education, students will be able to continue this mindset as they transition to practice. Creating student-centered learning objectives that foster and support the achievement of deep learning is imperative. There is much to be learned, however, course content should be broken down into smaller concepts that allow for information to be presented in greater depth. Learning objectives should be supported by the use of student-centered learning strategies and evaluation techniques that allow for the interpretation and application of the student’s knowledge.
Incorporating the use of interactive activities and assignments such as case studies, simulations and clinical learning experiences will allow the students to explore linking concepts, prior knowledge, and experience to real-life scenarios which allows for a deeper understanding of the meaning and relevance of the overall course content. One method which supports the acquisition of deep learning and the development of critical thinking skills is the use of tests with open-ended questions. Additionally, multiple choice tests often provide the educator with the student’s ability to perform based on simple memorization and regurgitation of facts whereas open ended questions are a way for the educators to assess how the student organizes knowledge and how they describe the relationships between facts, concepts or ideas and how they might apply to nursing practice. The students are required to retrieve knowledge from their memory bank in order to provide a response to the question that is reflective of their understanding of the content.
It is my hope to create a learning environment that stimulates learning by taking into consideration students multiple intelligences and promotes deep learning by the use of interactive activities and assignments. Incorporating interactive activities and assignments will help to foster student’s ability to master core knowledge; critically think and problem solve, communicate effectively, and work collaboratively. As the educator, I will provide my students with the puzzle pieces (course content) and the students will utilize those puzzle pieces to begin to visualize the big picture by making the connection between their knowledge and real-life experiences within the nursing profession.
The profession of nursing requires a nurse to be able to apply clinical reasoning, clinical judgment and critical thinking skills in order to provide safe, quality patient care. By fostering deep learning throughout their education, students will be able to continue this mindset as they transition to practice. Creating student-centered learning objectives that foster and support the achievement of deep learning is imperative. There is much to be learned, however, course content should be broken down into smaller concepts that allow for information to be presented in greater depth. Learning objectives should be supported by the use of student-centered learning strategies and evaluation techniques that allow for the interpretation and application of the student’s knowledge.
Incorporating the use of interactive activities and assignments such as case studies, simulations and clinical learning experiences will allow the students to explore linking concepts, prior knowledge, and experience to real-life scenarios which allows for a deeper understanding of the meaning and relevance of the overall course content. One method which supports the acquisition of deep learning and the development of critical thinking skills is the use of tests with open-ended questions. Additionally, multiple choice tests often provide the educator with the student’s ability to perform based on simple memorization and regurgitation of facts whereas open ended questions are a way for the educators to assess how the student organizes knowledge and how they describe the relationships between facts, concepts or ideas and how they might apply to nursing practice. The students are required to retrieve knowledge from their memory bank in order to provide a response to the question that is reflective of their understanding of the content.
It is my hope to create a learning environment that stimulates learning by taking into consideration students multiple intelligences and promotes deep learning by the use of interactive activities and assignments. Incorporating interactive activities and assignments will help to foster student’s ability to master core knowledge; critically think and problem solve, communicate effectively, and work collaboratively. As the educator, I will provide my students with the puzzle pieces (course content) and the students will utilize those puzzle pieces to begin to visualize the big picture by making the connection between their knowledge and real-life experiences within the nursing profession.