e-Learning, the time is NOW!

As an aspiring nurse educator, sometimes I limit myself to thinking that I am going to be teaching in a classroom, in front of my students, delivering well prepared, technologically advanced formats.  But at times I limit myself to thinking that technology is there just to enhance my lectures, not to replace them.  The authors of this article were challenged to find other effective means to educate the nursing staff of a hospital in order to keep them up-to-date on best practices, thus ensuring positive outcomes for the patients.  Their traditional method of teaching was to given power point enhanced lectures covering multiple topics that the staff needed updated on.  This was not cost effective as nurses needed to have time away from the bedside, nor was it effective in helping the staff remember and learn the information presented. 

Thus the nursing educators decided to utilize an e-Learning format that allowed the nurse to update themselves each year on the pertinent changes in best practices.  This e-Learning format allowed the nurse to access information during “down” times at work, at prescheduled times designated by the manager, or at home.  It also allowed progress to be saved, so learning could take place incrementally.  It is important in adult learning that learning can take place at the optimal time for the student.  The authors found that there was increased nurse satisfaction with teaching in this method, that there was more compliance with the modules, and that there was a cost savings associated with this change. 

I appreciated this article not because their beta testing research was recorded and not for the ability to reproduce the research, but because the article delineated an effective method of change in a hospital system.  They detailed the process used to change from the didactic method of teaching, to the more flexible and still effective e-Learning modules.  I felt that I could use the information provided in the article to promote a change to e-Learning in my work environment utilizing the process they outlined.  The method of teaching was a given in this case, but the broader use of how to implement the use of technology is something that I will refer back to if the case arises.  It was a refreshing article showing such positive change that I was able to reflect on how technology can be used to teach outside of the world of academia.  Hmm, food for thought. . .

Wahl, S.E., & Latayan, M.B. (2011). Nursing education innovation: Using e-learning technology to meet learners’ needs. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 42(11), 483-484.