Strategies for teaching public policy in nursing: a creative approach

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Public Policy Analysis
• Online Learning Pedagogy

Background:

• Effective professional discourse and interaction are crucial for learning, particularly in value-laden fields like politics and public policy.
• Online learning environments present unique challenges and opportunities for facilitating student engagement and collaborative expression.
• Nursing education increasingly incorporates public policy to prepare students for healthcare leadership roles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine successful strategies for facilitating student-student and student-faculty interaction in an online public policy course for nursing students.
• To identify methods that promote communal expression and enhance learning within this specific academic context.
• To provide practical insights for educators designing and delivering online courses in sensitive subject areas.

Main Methods:

• The study focuses on an online public policy course designed for nursing students.
• It analyzes specific examples of pedagogical strategies implemented within the course.
• Emphasis is placed on techniques that encourage "communal expression" and interaction.

Main Results:

• Certain strategies were identified as particularly successful in stimulating student engagement and knowledge sharing.
• Facilitating open discourse and collaborative activities fostered a richer learning experience.
• Communal expression emerged as a key element in navigating complex policy topics.

Conclusions:

• Online platforms can effectively support deep learning in public policy for nursing students through strategic facilitation.
• Encouraging student interaction and shared expression is vital for mastering complex, value-laden subjects.
• The findings offer a model for enhancing online pedagogy in specialized, interdisciplinary fields.