Freedom to enjoy learning in the 21st century: developing an active learning culture in nursing

In 1994, the Wolfson School of Health Sciences was created in Thames Valley University, UK. This paper discusses an active learning approach being implemented throughout the university, and gives an outline of its application within nursing education. Practising as a confident, competent, reflective practitioner in the profession of nursing cannot automatically commence on the day of registration. Rather, the philosophical underpinnings necessary should be fostered throughout the initial nursing education curricula. In a political climate where there is a strong emphasis on efficiency, nurse teachers need to reconsider how the acquisition of nursing knowledge is facilitated. A description of how an active learning approach is being further developed in the nursing skills laboratory and the physiology laboratory is given. An outline identifies how these facilities may help students of nursing to gain knowledge and skills in relation to respiration. The authors recognize that while laboratories have been used widely in general education, their use has been limited in nursing education, particularly in the UK. Informal feedback from students implies that not only do they enjoy learning in these facilities, but also motivation towards learning is raised, an important element in the learning process. It is suggested that this will result ultimately in increased nursing competence. The authors acknowledge that these are preliminary informal findings and that formal investigation is required.