Why Your Nursing Students Crave Virtual Learning

You’ve likely seen headlines that state “millennials are technology-dependent” or “millennial attention spans are decreasing.” The science behind these claims is lacking and often disputed, though. The impact of technology on the learning environment is unquestionable. However, it’s not just millennial learners that are affected.

Smartphone and computer use are nearly ubiquitous.77％的美国成年人拥有智能手机– up from 35% of adults in 2011.¹And, more than three billion people are now using the internet.²搜索信息不再是耗时的耗时，在我们的指尖和我们背部口袋里使用Google。

When looking at smartphone usage by age group, of millennials between 18-24 years old, 98% own a smartphone.^3.25-34岁的千禧一代紧随其后关注：97％拥有智能手机（同上）。而且，96％的生成XERS（年龄在35-44岁之间）拥有智能手机。^4.

这一切的这一方法是今天的学习者，无论年龄段，不断寻求新的信息，都会在一天中暴露在比前一代的更多信息，并且更容易发生多任务处理。^5.成人学习理论可追溯到渐进式教育之父的约翰杜威工作，指出了对体验，实验和实践学习经验的需求。由于数字媒体已成为所有消费，所以新兴学习方式包括经验学习，引导指导和集体反射的平衡。^6.Essentially, in order to meet the needs of modern-day learners, you need to deliver on their terms.

The typical baccalaureate nursing program is comprised of mostly millennial students, but even the 18% of students over 30 years old need more than didactic learning.^7.Learners seek to interact with the material in a way they are comfortable with – and that’s online.

在本文中，我们探讨为什么虚拟模拟，通过电子学习治疗患者的方法可能是您的护理课程中缺失的作品。

The Delivery Model Has Changed

Today, nursing programs rely most heavily on educational technologies like videos, online or distance learning, virtual simulation, and adaptive quizzes and tests.^8.

在未来五年内，预计护理计划将采用更高级的学习技术，例如数据分析工具，移动应用和虚拟现实。^10.The primary reasons behind adopting these technologies are:^11.

• To increase NCLEX pass-rates
• To meet State/Board/Accreditation mandates
• 应对可用临床部位数量的减少
• To meet changes in the technology being used in practice
• To serve the way incoming students learn

Nursing programs that have larger numbers of enrolled students tend to adopt new technologies more readily, compared to nursing programs that accept fewer students.^12.It’s all about economy of scale.

如果您是一个小组织，虚拟模拟将允许您跨越新技术并利用它的人力教学资源不可用。在线培训方法可以减少课程的整体时间和成本，同时保持学习者满意度，信心和学习成果。^13.

虚拟仿真Helps Students Walk Before They Run

David Kolb first published his experiential learning theory in 1984, based on the earlier works of John Dewey.^14.他的四阶段学习循环，以及他定义的四种学习方式，今天仍然影响教育课程。我们在劳埃尔，由他的模型引发了我们用它作为创造模型的基础，Circle of Learning。

Kolb’s experiential learning cycle defines four stages that a learner should progress through:

• 具体经验 - 新的经验或重新解释体验。
• 反思观测 - 解释经验与理解之间的不一致。
• Abstract Conceptualization – The formation of a new idea or changes to an existing idea.
• Active Experimentation – The learner applies knowledge in future situations, resulting in new experiences.

Essential to this theory is the idea that a student必须progress through all four stages in order to effectively learn. This implies thatno teaching strategy on its own should be the be-all and end-all to effective teaching.护理curricula, it is the combination of didactic, hands-on training, simulation, and clinical experience that prove most effective.

虚拟模拟允许学习者治疗虚拟患者，收集他们的病历和练习患者中心的护理，而不会受到患者伤害的威胁。学习者沉浸在一个在线经验中，以完成Kolb循环的反思观测阶段。从教科书和讲座内容中绘制，学习者从事情景，并对患者的护理作出批判性决定。

专家推荐虚拟患者作为学习活动，可以支持护理学生的科学知识，同时帮助他们将理论整合到实践中。^15.The repeatability of the scenarios, in conjunction with the debriefing, allows learners to back-track each decision and compare it to evidence-based practices and protocols.

虚拟模拟提供了学习者在参与全面模拟之前测试他们的知识，更重要的是，在他们踏入医院之前。

E-Learning Can Tell a Story – and Stories Stick

As the internet has grown into the mammoth source that it is today, the applications and effectiveness of eLearning have continued to improve. Research has shown thatup to 60% better consistency of learning can be achieved through technology-based training。^16.

虚拟模拟，最突出的形式之一逼真in the field of nursing education, requires learners to draw on what they’ve been taught and begin testing the application of their skills. Each scenario follows a storyline, integrating video, patient interactions, and pre- and post-simulation quizzes. While achieving the benefits of eLearning, virtual simulations that include the element of story provide additional advantages to the learning experience.

“Simulation and [stories] can move faculty from simply depositing content to using content in different creative ways as part of their teaching agenda and, ultimately, to match curriculum to course learning outcomes,” says Elaine Tagliareni, EdD, RN, CNE, FAAN, and Susan Forneris, PhD, RN, CNE, CHSE-A, from the National League for Nursing (NLN).^18.

可以遵循一个故事的学习者，从开始完成，看看他们的决定和行动的结果将更好地概念化安全的做法。Virtual simulation提供安全，有效和简单的在线环境，以实行所有护士需求的关键思维和决策技能。