“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
Benjamin Franklin
Proper planning allows people to be organized and to stay on track. It prevents us from derailing from our objectives and goals. Lesson planning is an important part of the teaching-learning process, and through some research, I have identified 5 components that as a practice advisor would help me track progress and reach learning objectives in an effective and efficient way. Next, I describe how each of these components improve my presentations when educating Nurses on the Standards of Practice Framework.
Characteristics of Adult Learners
When it comes to teaching adults, maturity brings unique characteristics that affect the way learning happens. The Clinical Educator’s Resource Kit states that adults are characterized by experience, self-confidence, autonomy, solid decision-making, among other things. By identifying the unique qualities of adult learners, I will be able to design more effective and engaging ways of teaching. In addition, this resource on adult learning will help me identify what instructional planning I require in order to create the right content and structure.
Motivational Skills
Engaging nurses to understand and apply the standards of practice framework to their profession could be challenging at times. Complex patient care and clinical skills, workload issues, emergency situations, etc., become more relevant and important than their regulatory responsibilities as professional nurses. For that reason, it is imperative to have the right attitude and motivational skills to engage them and keep them interested for the duration of my presentations. The Nine Strategies to Spark Adult Students’ Intrinsic Motivation shows me the qualities and approaches I need as a presenter to engage and motivate effectively adult learners.
Instructional Process/ Strategies
One of my goals as a practice advisor is to provide the nurses not only with the knowledge, but also the attitude and judgement on how and when to apply the principles of each of their practice standards. The online resource on Instructional Approaches list key methods and provides a useful diagram of its components. I would be able to utilize this resource when developing resources. One great strategy, is the indirect instruction where case studies are used to teach students. In my profession, case scenarios are one of the best tools in place that help nurses understand and apply information.
Media
The use of visuals tools such as PowerPoint, and online resources, are the main tools I have to educate our registrants. The Guide to Persuasive Presentations by the Harvard Business Review, is an amazing tool I found that will allow me to incorporate and better utilize all visuals and speaking techniques within my presentations. The use of images and storytelling are the new ways to engage and connect with an audience.
Bloom’s Taxonomy.
In nursing, competence is key for patient safety. Nurses not only need to have the skill and knowledge to carry out an activity, they also need the attitude and judgement to do it. If one of these four components is missing, a nurse might end up practising in an unsafe manner and more importantly, putting patients at risk. As an nursing practice advisor, one of my goals is to provide the resources for nurses to understand and apply the four principles on competence at all times. By utilizing the online resource on Bloom’s Taxonomy’s cognitive domain, I would be able to develop content that would enhance the ability for nurses to reflect on their own competencies within their practice.
