Engaging the Online Learner in Academic Writing: The APA Format Interactive Tutorial
Abstract: Facilitating growth for students in academic writing has challenged nursing faculty for decades. At Regis University, the Rueckert-Hartman School for Health Professions utilizes American Psychological Association (APA) format; we found our online students needed more personable assistance in writing appropriately formatted scholarly papers than what the APA manual or APA Web site currently provide. Learning APA format is often dry and unappealing. Our experience demonstrates that learning objects allow students to actively participate in learning in a non-threatening environment. In the Loretto Heights Department of Nursing, the approach consisted of an APA Pack in all online courses, which included the APA Format Interactive Tutorial, developed in Flash. Utilizing a carnival theme, the tutorial includes 28 custom-built drag-and-drop, sorting, and multiple-choice questions, along with resource material. Student evaluations of the tutorial as well as student papers demonstrate an overall positive result on student learning and performance.
Presider: Brooks Steele, University of South Alabama