Teachers' Strategies and Technology Use for Enhancing Students' Critical Thinking in Nursing Simulation-Based...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Medical Simulation
• Educational Technology

Background:

• Simulation-based learning (SBL) is crucial for bridging theory and practice in nursing education, fostering critical thinking (CT).
• Existing research has identified gaps in understanding student learning outcomes and the specific technological applications within SBL.
• There is a need to explore effective strategies and technology integration to enhance nursing students' CT development through SBL.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore learning strategies and technology use aimed at enhancing nursing students' critical thinking (CT) within the simulation-based learning (SBL) context.
• To identify key elements perceived by educators as crucial for effective SBL implementation in nursing education.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative pilot study was conducted involving semistructured interviews with nursing educators from two universities in southern Sweden.
• Phenomenographic analysis, as introduced by Sjöström and Dahlgren, was employed to analyze the gathered data.
• The study focused on educators' perspectives regarding strategies and technology use in SBL for CT development.

Main Results:

• Educators identified five descriptive categories of strategies for student learning and technology use: motivating environment, facilitating preparations, active participation, student-centeredness, and reflective observations.
• The findings highlight diverse approaches to leveraging technology within SBL to support student engagement and learning.
• Participants' perceptions offer insights into practical methods for optimizing SBL effectiveness in nursing education.

Conclusions:

• The study provides valuable examples of effective strategies and technology integration for educators implementing SBL to foster critical thinking in nursing students.
• While not directly applicable to clinical practice, the findings offer guidance for enhancing the pedagogical approach of SBL.
• Future research should investigate nursing students' experiences to gain a comprehensive understanding of how CT is promoted through SBL simulations.