Coffee and Chat Session: Meeting the Needs of Nontraditional ABSN Students
Abstract: Accelerated BSN students are nontraditional adult learners. Most of the students in this population are second degree students who hold a job, have limited time, and have family. As adult learners they need to have the information given in a way that is straight to the point in a limited amount of time. The problem that arose was the inability to really assess their understanding. The use of technology was the best way to engage these students and assess their understanding in a way that was to the point, in agreement with their class/clinical schedule, didn’t require unaccounted for lecture time, and fits into their lives. To engage adult learners, games and gimmicks may not work well. The environment where this teaching tool was implemented is a 12-month accelerated BSN program of 36-44 students. The course used Zoom, “Coffee and Chat” from Bonk and Khoo’s (2014) book on online teaching techniques, in a Women’s Health class taught in a 5 week mini-term. It is challenging to teach the material, instruct the students in a skills lab, complete simulation, and two days of clinical. Finding enough time to assess any confusion or “muddiest points” without keeping the students over in class was difficult.
Presider: Rebecca Callaway, Arkansas Tech University