"The Child's World": a creative and visual trigger to stimulate student enquiry in a problem based learning module.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Pedagogy

Background:

• Problem-based learning (PBL) is a widely studied educational strategy.
• However, fewer studies examine the development and student evaluation of "triggers" crucial for PBL success.
• Well-designed triggers are essential for implementing effective PBL.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the planning, implementation, and evaluation of a PBL "trigger" for a first-year undergraduate nursing module.
• To assess student perspectives on the developed trigger.
• To enhance student inquiry and learning outcomes through PBL.

Main Methods:

• A "trigger" in the form of a colourful collage was developed for a nursing module.
• The trigger was designed to meet specific learning outcomes and stimulate inquiry.
• Focus group interviews were conducted to evaluate the trigger from the students' perspective.

Main Results:

• Student perspectives centered on "finding a focus and taking control."
• Four developmental categories were identified: initial confusion, engaging with trigger diversity, exploring inquiry, and stimulated learning.
• Students experienced initial ambiguity transitioning to student-centered learning, consistent with prior research.

Conclusions:

• The developed collage trigger successfully stimulated student learning and inquiry in PBL.
• Engaging students in trigger development is suggested as a way to address challenges in the PBL process.
• This approach can help students navigate the transition to student-centered learning.