Going the Distance with Innovation: Designing and Delivering a Synchronous Practice Lab Experience by Distance Education Debra Walker RN, BA, MDE CNIE Conference April 29, 2008

“ Technology is revolutionizing the design, delivery and evaluation of nursing education.” (Jeffries, P. 2005) Distance Education

Project and Purpose Non-experimental pilot project Two Nursing skills practice lab classes Synchronously Five college campuses in Northwestern Ontario Distance technology

Non-experimental pilot project

Two Nursing skills practice lab classes

Synchronously

Five college campuses in Northwestern Ontario

Distance technology

Where is Confederation College? Thunder Bay is in Northwestern Ontario Confederation College has seven campuses which services an area of 200,000 sq miles

Where is Confederation College?

Thunder Bay is in Northwestern Ontario

Confederation College has seven campuses which services an area of 200,000 sq miles

Northwestern Ontario – The Project Site

Project and Purpose In the smaller regional communities: limited lab opportunities continued use of part-time instructors communication challenges between sites and instructors varying teacher expectations  students’ dissatisfaction

In the smaller regional communities:

limited lab opportunities

continued use of part-time instructors

communication challenges between sites and instructors

varying teacher expectations

 students’ dissatisfaction

Provide equal opportunities Develop nursing lab/clinical scenarios using a variety of technologies Build a sense of community in a lab setting Future lab research Project and Purpose

Provide equal opportunities

Develop nursing lab/clinical scenarios using a variety of technologies

Build a sense of community in a lab setting

Future lab research

Promote positive student outcomes Allow for continuity in practical nursing lab experiences Gather data for future virtual lab experiences Project Goals

Promote positive student outcomes

Allow for continuity in practical nursing lab experiences

Gather data for future virtual lab experiences

Setting and Participants Forty-nine (49) practical nursing students across five sites Lab teacher present at each site Presentations and demonstrations were broadcast from a 2-way video classroom for #1 lab a Simulation lab using Sky Pack for #2

Forty-nine (49) practical nursing students across five sites

Lab teacher present at each site

Presentations and demonstrations were broadcast from

a 2-way video classroom for #1 lab

a Simulation lab using Sky Pack for #2

Focus: Child/ Maternal Care: Basic Principles of Pediatric Care Prenatal Care and the Birth Process See Handout Lab #1

Focus: Child/ Maternal Care:

Basic Principles of Pediatric Care

Prenatal Care and the Birth Process

See Handout

Lab #1

Focus: Maternal/ Newborn Care Labour and Delivery Postpartum Care and the Newborn See Handout Lab #2

Focus: Maternal/ Newborn Care

Labour and Delivery

Postpartum Care and the Newborn

See Handout

Lab #2

“ Sky Pack” Unit Lab #2

Lab #2

Lab #2

Design and Delivery The project incorporated a variety of technologies Textbook Printed materials Audio/video aids Web interface (Blackboard) Human patient simulators

The project incorporated a variety of technologies

Textbook

Printed materials

Audio/video aids

Web interface (Blackboard)

Human patient simulators

Blackboard Website

Blackboard Website

Blackboard Website Updated Announcements Critical Thinking Questions Labour and Birth Basics  childbirth.org website Information about the faculty Survey Monkey

Blackboard Website

Updated Announcements

Critical Thinking Questions

Labour and Birth Basics  childbirth.org website

Information about the faculty

Survey Monkey

Design and Delivery

Twenty-one (21) students participated in an online survey. Five (5) sites participated in focus groups.

Twenty-one (21) students participated in an online survey.

Results of Survey #1 – Pediatric/ Newborn content was communicated effectively

Results of Survey #2 - Maternal/ Newborn content was communicated effectively

Results of Survey #3 - I feel I have gained knowledge from the presentation of both labs by distance.

Results of Survey Satisfaction/ Continuity #1Blue #2 Red #3 Green

“ Care of the infant was very interesting – we got to see the skills and ask questions.” “ I think the ‘birth lab’ was fantastic. The guest speaker was very knowledgeable, and presented the information in a step-by-step format which I enjoyed.” “ It was helpful to have these labs before going into maternal/child clinical.” Focus Groups

“ Care of the infant was very interesting – we got to see the skills and ask questions.”

“ I think the ‘birth lab’ was fantastic. The guest speaker was very knowledgeable, and presented the information in a step-by-step format which I enjoyed.”

“ It was helpful to have these labs before going into maternal/child clinical.”

Students were satisfied with the labs when: all lab teachers were present at each site the labs were interactive and visual they had access to various supports such as: Blackboard, A/V materials (in text) Simulators were incorporated Lessons Learned

Students were satisfied with the labs when:

all lab teachers were present at each site

the labs were interactive and visual

they had access to various supports such as: Blackboard, A/V materials (in text)

Simulators were incorporated

What students liked about the labs: External Links posted on Blackboard Real stories/examples from teachers Having PowerPoint slides and printed study guide questions prior to labs Lessons Learned

What students liked about the labs:

External Links posted on Blackboard

Real stories/examples from teachers

Having PowerPoint slides and printed study guide questions prior to labs

Recommendations Faculty at each site to take turns presenting/ demonstrating each week (by 2-way video) Occasional guest speakers – midwife Develop further case studies/ scenarios

Faculty at each site to take turns presenting/ demonstrating each week (by 2-way video)

Occasional guest speakers – midwife

Develop further case studies/ scenarios

Asynchronous technologies Example: VCE, videos Human Simulators available at each campus Video connection to Simulation lab at main campus through ‘Sky Pack’ or modified unit Recommendations

Asynchronous technologies Example: VCE, videos

Human Simulators available at each campus

Video connection to Simulation lab at main campus through ‘Sky Pack’ or modified unit

How interaction can occur among sites to support conversational learning and to build a sense of community for students How the use of varied technologies can support individualized learning How to design a virtual lab experience in our distance program Future research

How interaction can occur among sites to support conversational learning and to build a sense of community for students

How the use of varied technologies can support individualized learning

How to design a virtual lab experience in our distance program

“ Even as the delivery systems change, evidence indicates that outcomes comparable to those in the on-campus classroom can be attained.” (Mancuso-Murphy 2007, as cited in, Billings 2007) Distance Education

“ Optimize distance education; Individualize learning.” (Billings, D. 2007) Distance Education

Project Goals Met? Positive student outcomes  Continuity in practical nursing lab experience  Gathered data for future virtual lab experiences  In Reflection

The last question on survey: “ Do you think a simulated hands-on workshop to accompany these labs would be beneficial?” 100% Agreement from Students One More Point

On April 17, 2008 four Thunder Bay teachers delivered a Simulated Lab experience in Dryden for students & lab teachers from Dryden, Kenora, Sioux Lookout and Fort Frances. One More Point

Dryden Lab April 17 On the Road again  a great success!  a sense of Community!

Questions and Answers

Billings, D. (2007). Optimizing distance education in nursing. Journal of Nursing Education, 46 (6), 247-248. Jeffries, P. (2005). Technology trends in nursing education: Next steps. Journal of Nursing Education, 44 (1), 3-4. Morrison, B., Thibeault, L. & Walker, D. (2008). Going the distance: Designing and delivering a simulated clinical experience. NISOD Publication Innovations Abstracts , 30 (4). References

Billings, D. (2007). Optimizing distance education in nursing. Journal of Nursing Education, 46 (6), 247-248.

Jeffries, P. (2005). Technology trends in nursing education: Next steps. Journal of Nursing Education, 44 (1), 3-4.

Morrison, B., Thibeault, L. & Walker, D. (2008). Going the distance: Designing and delivering a simulated clinical experience. NISOD Publication Innovations Abstracts , 30 (4).