A case for learning-centered curricula.
Nurses must be able to anticipate and manage the care of patients with complex conditions in a rapidly changing, highly technological health care environment. Yet many of today's nursing programs are failing to provide curricula to meet the changing needs of students who will work in that environment. Typical teacher-centered programs are content heavy and focus on what faculty want to teach, not what students need to learn. Learning-centered education shifts the focus from teaching to student learning. Learning-centered programs identify student learning outcomes that are reflective of current nursing practice, use authentic assessment, and provide learning experiences that move students toward the achievement of outcomes. This article describes the major benefits of a learning-centered curriculum, and a model depicts the dynamic relationship among learning experiences, assessment, and student learning outcomes. We also offer suggestions for nursing faculty who are considering the move from teacher-centered to learning-centered curricula.
Psychosocial Nursing, Graduate Nurse Educator Track, University of Nevada, Las Vegas 89154-3018, USA. lori.candela@unlv.edu
Lori
L
Candela
Karla
K
Dalley
Jean
J
Benzel-Lindley
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003479:Curriculum; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005181:Faculty, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D017145:Models, Educational; D008960:Models, Psychological; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009736:Nursing Process; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D016530:Orthopedic Nursing / Q000193:education; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011588:Psychology, Educational; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D013850:Thinking