Creativity in the Classroom
I have heard it said that educators teach in the way which they were taught… As a novice educator, I find this concept very interesting… It causes me to reflect on the monumental impact that my teachers had on me, as well as thinking about the implications of my own teaching practice on future nursing students. What I remember most about nursing school is not centered on the massive amount of nursing content that was presented in class with PowerPoint presentations, but instead revolves around teachers who brought creativity and interactive learning into the classroom.
Likewise, my goal as an educator is to bring a sense of creativity into the classroom. Without any formal teaching experience, I am presently seeking to discover future ways in which I can encourage my students to participate in interactive learning activities. I know that my students are most likely to learn, retain, and apply classroom content if learning is presented in fun and interesting ways. I know that as a new educator I will need to “think outside the box” as I plan innovative teaching strategies. I anticipate that I will initially be required to use a trial-and-error approach towards discovering which strategies work for my students.
Some of my “Creative” ideas for the classroom include:
Returning to the concept that I am inclined to teach in the way which I was taught- many of my ideas have been gleaned from my teachers in nursing school, and I want to continue to build on their ideas as I develop my own teaching style. I want my enthusiasm for nursing to be infectious to the students in my classroom!
Jennifer Austin
(March 13, 2015)
Likewise, my goal as an educator is to bring a sense of creativity into the classroom. Without any formal teaching experience, I am presently seeking to discover future ways in which I can encourage my students to participate in interactive learning activities. I know that my students are most likely to learn, retain, and apply classroom content if learning is presented in fun and interesting ways. I know that as a new educator I will need to “think outside the box” as I plan innovative teaching strategies. I anticipate that I will initially be required to use a trial-and-error approach towards discovering which strategies work for my students.
Some of my “Creative” ideas for the classroom include:
- Having students develop creative concept-maps using poster-boards and various art supplies.
- Having students create anatomical models (i.e. heart, lungs, digestive system, etc.) using play-dough.
- Having students work together in creating mnemonics to represent difficult course concepts (i.e. pathophysiology, laboratory values, nursing assessment, etc.).
- Having students develop and “act out” short skits related to classroom content (i.e. cultural sensitivity, ethical dilemmas, clinical decision-making, delegation/teamwork, etc.).
- Having students create patient-education pamphlets and written information sheets related to various medical conditions (i.e. Diabetes, Hypertension, Congestive Heart Failure, etc.) and medications (i.e. Insulin, Coumadin, Antibiotics, etc.).
Returning to the concept that I am inclined to teach in the way which I was taught- many of my ideas have been gleaned from my teachers in nursing school, and I want to continue to build on their ideas as I develop my own teaching style. I want my enthusiasm for nursing to be infectious to the students in my classroom!
Jennifer Austin
(March 13, 2015)