Quality perinatal nursing education through coteaching

Collaboration in teaching can take different forms, including the model of coteaching. This educational strategy requires time, effort, commitment, and collaboration between partners in order to ensure an enhanced teaching and learning experience. Little has been written recently on the theory of coteaching. The literature does not address the subject of coteaching or team teaching from a combined theoretical and clinical perspective. Two professors in nursing sciences present their experience in coteaching over a 4-year period, covering a theoretical course and a clinical practicum at the basic baccalaureate level, as well as the supervision of clinical preceptors for this same practicum. They describe the conceptual, personal, and environmental conditions that enabled them to use this particular form of teaching at this point in their careers. They discuss how the concept works as well as the advantages and disadvantages from the perspective of professors, students, and preceptors. Recommendations are made for implementing such a strategy while minimizing the risks for the program, the teachers, the students, and the educational milieux. Their discussion may provide insight for programs that prepare childbirth educators.