Students' perceptions of learning outcomes from group-based, problem-based teaching and learning activities

Facilitating problem-based learning among undergraduate nursing students: A qualitative systematic review

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to identify and synthesize the best available evidence on the perspective of undergraduate nursing students on facilitating elements that contribute to their success with PBL.

DESIGN

a qualitative systematic review of the literature according to meta-aggregative methodology using the JBI SUMARI system was conducted.

DATA SOURCES

Data was collected across CINAHL, Medline, Embase, Eric, Teacher Reference Center and reference lists.

RESEARCH METHODS

Out of 378 articles, 101 were retrieved for examination and eight were retained after methodological analysis.

RESULTS

51 findings, matched with a verbatim, were extracted and aggregated in five categories: 1) in PBL, the nursing tutor models clinical reasoning and leadership skills; 2) the quality of group interactions is critical to the success of nursing students with PBL; 3) nursing students go through the process of learning with PBL; 4) through PBL, nursing students acquire skills that foster clinical reasoning; and 5) when the PBL method is used as intended, nursing students understand its purpose and process. These categories were aggregated in two syntheses worded as recommendation for practice.

CONCLUSIONS

The synthesized recommendations are: 1) tutors should be trained to effectively guide the team work of undergraduate nursing students along the PBL process in order for them to achieve its goal; and 2) nursing students should be securely introduced to PBL and experience the development of their clinical reasoning through PBL. Future research should focus on the strategies undergraduate nursing students use to succeed with PBL and the effectiveness of PBL in enhancing critical thinking and collaboration skills.

The effect of problem-based learning in nursing education: a meta-analysis

Problem-based learning (PBL) has been identified as an approach that improves the training of nurses by teaching them how to apply theory to clinical practice and by developing their problem-solving skills, which could be used to overcome environmental constraints within clinical practice. A consensus is emerging that there is a need for systematic reviews and meta-analyses regarding a range of selected topics in nursing education. The purpose of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis of the available literature in order to synthesize the effects of PBL in nursing education. Using a number of databases, we identified studies related to the effectiveness of PBL in nursing. An analysis was conducted on a range of outcome variables, including overall effect sizes and effects of evidence and evaluation levels, learning environment, and study characteristics. We found that the effect of PBL in nursing education is 0.70 standard deviations (medium-to-large effect size). We also found that PBL has positive effects on the outcome domains of satisfaction with training, clinical education, and skill course. These results may act as a guide for nurse educators with regard to the conditions under which PBL is more effective than traditional learning strategies.

Objeto educacional digital: avaliação da ferramenta para prática de ensino em enfermagem

OBJETIVO: Descrever as opiniões de estudantes quanto ao uso da tecnologia, as práticas educacionais vivenciadas, o suporte ao educando e os resultados atingidos na aprendizagem por meio de ambiente virtual. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo exploratório descritivo com abordagem quantitativa realizado em uma Escola de Enfermagem, com a participação de 43 alunos da disciplina de Fundamentos do Cuidado Humano I que responderam a um questionário, avaliando o processo empregado. RESULTADOS: Os dados apontaram que a avaliação da atividade proposta sobre os sinais vitais, mediada por computador teve concordância positiva quanto ao uso da tecnologia, das práticas educacionais vivenciadas, do suporte ao educando e dos resultados atingidos na aprendizagem por meio do ambiente virtual. CONCLUSÃO: A proposta dinamizou o ensino presencial e proporcionou o desenvolvimento de habilidades na área da informática e na metodologia de resolução de problemas.

Problem based learning in the clinical setting--a systematic review

Problem based learning (PBL) is widely utilised as a curricula modality within the health professions and extensive literature exists to support its application. Recently nurse educators have embarked on the PBL journey as a method of contextualizing theory into practice in the classroom and clinical setting. The University of Queensland, in partnership with key health care providers, introduced an innovative undergraduate nursing curriculum in 2004. The curriculum incorporates problem based learning, clinical skills sessions, lectures and clinical practice as part of an intense weekly program from first year onwards. The program facilitates integration of evidence based theoretical and clinical knowledge driven by the PBL philosophy. However, in reality is PBL utilised by clinicians as a method of clinical teaching in undergraduate health professional programs? A systematic review of the literature was undertaken to answer this question revealing a paucity of evidence supporting or confirming the application of PBL in the clinical setting. The findings of this review highlight the current gaps in the PBL literature, supporting further research into the role of PBL as a teaching strategy for undergraduate nurses in the clinical practice setting.

Infectious Disease Cases for Educational Purposes: Open-Access Resources on the Internet

The use of medical cases in the problem-based learning approach has been increasing in medical schools worldwide. We collected information regarding the relevant World Wide Web resources with infectious diseases cases for educational purposes by searching frequently used Internet search engines (i.e., Google, AltaVista, and Yahoo), the PubMed database, and Current Contents, as well as the Web sites of each of the US medical schools and other major institutions and organizations. We compiled a list of Internet links of 25 English-language, open-access (free) World Wide Web resources of educational cases in the field of infectious diseases. We collected information regarding the case developers, the number of the presented cases, the types and modes of the case presentations, and the target groups of the Web pages. Although we did not aim to generate an exhaustive list of relevant Web sites, we believe that a readily available list of electronic resources of medical cases with a focus on infectious diseases will be useful to medical students and physicians in training and practice.

The impact of active/cooperative instruction on beginning nursing student learning strategy preference

Rapid changes in the nursing field and high demand for practicing nurses put pressure on nursing faculty to educate increasing numbers of nursing students, often without corresponding increases in resources. Although the use of active and cooperative instruction methods in the classroom has been associated with improved student learning, these practices require increased effort on the part of both faculty and students. In addition, little is known about whether these methods influence student nurses' use of these more elaborative processing strategies in their independent study. The purpose of this quasi-experimental investigation was to identify the impact of incorporating active and cooperative classroom instructional activities on student preference for teaching methods and use of learning strategies in independent study. A convenience sample of beginning baccalaureate nursing students at a large Mid-Atlantic University was randomly assigned by the registrar to two class sections. Students in one section received primarily active/cooperative instruction, while the other received primarily traditional lecture-based instruction. Results indicated that student nurses exposed to active/cooperative instructional methods had an increased preference for these methods after a semester of instruction, while those exposed to traditional instruction had a higher preference for traditional methods. In addition, students participating in active class instruction reported increased preference for more elaborative independent study strategies, although overall preference for both groups indicated a reliance on surface study strategies of memorization and recall. Implications for use of instruction and student testing methodologies are presented.

A comparison of problem-based learning and lecture-based learning in an adult health nursing course

PURPOSE

This study aimed to compare the effects of the problem-based learning (PBL) method with the traditional lecture method on learning in the cardiorespiratory nursing section of the Adult Health Nursing course.

METHOD

A pretest-posttest experimental design was used. A total of 71 second-year nursing students in a three-year nursing program in Korea participated: 35 students in the PBL group in the fall semester of 2002, and 36 students in the traditional lecture group in 2003. The seven PBL packages were developed by the authors, based on an analysis of relevant learning content and clinical scenarios.

RESULTS

The level of knowledge in the PBL group was significantly higher than that of students in the lecture group (t=2.007, p=.045). All PBL students with higher and lower grades showed a significant increase in the posttest score. But in the lecture group, only students with higher grades showed a notable increase. No statistically significant difference was found between the PBL and lecture groups in the level of attitude toward learning (t=1.669, p=.100). Learning motivation was significantly higher in the PBL group (t=2.608, p=.012).

CONCLUSION

Students in the PBL group gained more knowledge and had higher motivation toward learning compared to students in the lecture group.