Learning contracts: a vehicle for increased student involvement in audio teleconferencing

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Distance Learning
• Adult Learning Theory

Background:

• Growing demand for baccalaureate nursing education for registered nurses via audio teleconferencing.
• Significant challenges exist in course design and delivery for nurse educators in distance learning settings.
• Need for effective strategies to increase student involvement in remote educational programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate contract learning as a strategy to boost student engagement in teleconference-based nursing courses.
• To analyze the strengths and limitations of contract learning from both student and educator viewpoints.
• To consider adult learning principles and distance education demands in the context of contract learning.

Main Methods:

• Discussion of contract learning principles and their application in audio teleconferencing nursing education.
• Analysis of student and teacher perspectives on contract learning effectiveness.
• Integration of adult learning theory and distance education challenges into the evaluation.

Main Results:

• Contract learning offers potential benefits for increasing student involvement in distance nursing programs.
• Identified limitations and challenges associated with implementing contract learning in this specific educational context.
• Perspectives from both students and educators provide a balanced view of contract learning's utility.

Conclusions:

• Contract learning can be a valuable tool for enhancing student participation in audio teleconferencing nursing education.
• Careful course design and consideration of adult learning principles are crucial for successful implementation.
• Further research may explore adaptations of contract learning for diverse distance education scenarios in nursing.