As a nurse educator, one should understand that students learn differently. Therefore, there is need to incorporate different learning and teaching styles in class to move students from their learning comfort zones. Applying different learning and teaching styles will help students learn well since one will be able to use the style they prefer and that makes them understand and grasp the concept well. For example in nursing class, flashcards and worksheets will work best for students who absorb the information visually (Gaberson, Oerman & Shellenbarger, 2015). Also, such students might be bored of listening a lecture or the educator in class, therefore, with visual notes; they will understand the information as expected. Therefore, it's important for nurse educator to encourage the use of preferred learning styles to his or her student since one may be bored by a particular style but prefers another style rather.
Also, in some nursing concepts, the nurse educator must give emphasis on the importance of embracing different styles to grasp well the concept. Some concepts are difficult for students to easily understand and therefore, the nurse educator encourages them to use methods like collaborative learning and learning by teaching style. For example, to enable a student actively participate in class, one will be required to use learning by teaching method, whereby, they will be required to study on their own and present what they learned from the fellow students (Billings, & Halstead, 2012). By so doing, the student will be motivated to study further so as to make an excellent presentation to his or her colleagues. Also, collaborative learning enables students to work as group or team thus promoting togetherness among them. Collaborative learning promotes the exchange of ideas and thus a student will get to understand a concept from their fellow students. Therefore, they will lift each other by working as a group instead of personal reading or whereby a nurse educator dominates the class discussion.
In a nutshell, as a nurse educator should incorporate various learning and teaching styles in class for proper learning among students. The nurse should appreciate the fact that students learn differently and each of them has the best learning style they prefer.
References
Billings, D., & Halstead, J. (2012). Teaching in Nursing: A guide for faculty (4th Edition). St Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Saunders.
Gaberson, K., Oerman, M., & Shellenbarger, T. (2015). Clinical teaching strategies in nursing (4th Edition). New York: Springer Publishing Company.
