Nursing (NURS) 624

Overview

This course offers advanced preparation for educators and health practitioners from various disciplines who want to gain the knowledge and skills needed to teach theoretical and practical components of education programs for health professionals. This is one of three courses towards a teaching focus. The focus of this course is on theory and high-level conceptual knowledge as well as process issues specific to the education of health professionals. Course topics include theories of learning, the influence of context on pedagogical approaches, challenges in education programs for health professionals, leadership and faculty development.

Although the course covers many aspects of the broad subject of teaching in health disciplines, there are also opportunities for students to focus on specific topics of particular importance for their own learning. Students are expected to set personal learning objectives, make choices regarding their learning activities, independently seek resources that will help them achieve their learning goals, work with the instructor to ensure their learning objectives are achieved, and participate actively as full members of this virtual class. It is anticipated that participants will have a foundational knowledge of principles of teaching and learning before taking this course.

Outline

MHST/NURS 624 comprises the following six units:

• Unit 1: Developing the Groundwork: Orientation, Overview of Contemporary Theories of Learning
• Unit 2: The Influence of Context and Philosophy on Curriculum and Pedagogy
• Unit 3: Issues, Challenges, and Responsibilities of Teachers in Health Disciplines
• Unit 4: The Role of the Teacher of Health Disciplines
• Unit 5: Academic Leadership and Faculty Development
• Unit 6: Integrating Personal Learning and Wrap-Up

Learning outcomes

By the conclusion of MHST/NURS 624 students will be able to:

1. Understand various contemporary theories of learning and apply selected theories to aspects of health discipline education.
2. Critically discuss the influence of internal and external contextual factors and curriculum philosophies on curriculum development, design, implementation, and evaluation.
3. Explain the influence of context and curriculum philosophies on pedagogical strategies.
4. Critically examine current issues of importance for teachers of health professionals.
5. Discuss responsibilities and challenges faced by teachers of health discipline education.
6. Understand the role of teachers of health disciplines.
7. Explore academic leadership and faculty development in health discipline education.

Evaluation

n the MHS and MN:Gen programs, students must achieve an overall program GPA of 2.7 ( B- or 70 percent), to graduate. The minimum passing grade requirement for each MHS and MN:Gen course is C- (60 percent).

The following course activities will contribute to your course grade, with the percentage weighting of each activity as follows:

Materials

Physical course materials

The following course materials are included in a course package that will be shipped to your home prior to your course’s start date:

Melrose, S., Park, C., & Perry, B. (2021). Creative clinical teaching in the health professions. Athabasca, AB, Canada: AU Press. Available at https://www.aupress.ca/books/creative-clinical-teaching-in-the-health-professions/

Melrose, S., Park, C. & Perry, B. (2020). Centring human connections in the education of health professionals.Athabasca, AB, Canada: AU Press. Available at https://www.aupress.ca/books/120289-centring-human-connections-in-the-education-of-health-professionals/

Melrose, S., Park, C. & Perry, B. (2013). Teaching health professionals online: Frameworks and strategies. Athabasca, AB, Canada: AU Press. Available free at http://www.aupress.ca/index.php/books/120234

Online Resources

Online readings are suggested in the course and students will be asked to locate additional online resources that will assist them in achieving the course objectives. An online study guide is provided.

Technical Requirements

Computer System

In order to successfully complete this course, you must own or have ready access to certain computer hardware and software programs. For complete and up-to-date information on the minimum computer requirements required to complete the graduate nursing courses, visit the Centre for Nursing and Health Studies technical site.

Important links

• Student services in FHD
• Support services at AU
• Faculty of Graduate Studies
• Faculty of Health Disciplines
• Graduate Calendar