Nursing Education Center

Delta State University

Course Overview:
This course focuses on concepts and theories basic to content and curriculum development in an academic or client-centered setting.

Course Objectives
Upon completion of NUR 617, the student will be able to:

• Synthesize and apply appropriate theories and concepts to the process of instruction and curriculum development in nursing.
• Appraise the effects of a changing health care system, issues, policies, philosophies and selected internal and external forces on curriculum and content development in academic and client-centered settings.
• Describe implications for nursing education content (for academia and clients) to curriculum as it relates to expanding roles of the professional nurse in a changing health care system.
• Use research findings, identified societal needs and resource-based data to substantiate recommendations for content and curriculum development and selected instructional methods.
• Collaborate in dynamic group processes for successful negotiation, implementation and evaluation of curriculum, content and instructional modalities.
• Relate teaching/learning theories, research findings, current knowledge, trends and issues to nursing education, planning and practice.
• Contrast the attributes of teachers and students/clients in relating to the content and the environment as a basis for the management of instruction.
• Correlate instructional domains with objectives, methodologies and evaluation.
• Trace the historical development of nursing education.
• Evaluate curriculum plans and related activities according to established criteria and formative and summative methods.

Outline of Content

• Theories: Learning/Education/Nursing
• History of Nursing Education/Staff Development
• Differences in Diploma, Associate Degree and Baccalaureate Nursing Education Programs
• Accreditation: Purpose/Value/Challenges
• Value and Impact of Research on Nursing Education
• Curriculum Development: Definition/Processes
• Evaluation: Classroom/Clinical
• Impact of Societal and Health Care Changes on Nursing Education
• Purpose and Role of Staff Development
• Ethical/Legal Considerations in Nursing Education
• Technology in Nursing Education

Teaching/Learning Activities
Activities include the preparation of papers and selected projects related to the topics covered in the courses, for example, the value of accreditation or the impact of societal changes on nursing education. Students will develop a curriculum for a baccalaureate or an associate degree nursing program that reflects the institution's philosophy and mission statement and includes a daily lesson plan within one of the courses, for example, the value of accreditation or the impact of societal changes on nursing education.

The course is conducted in a totally online format, including student presentations and class discussions. Student will use textbooks, online resources and library references in the development of assignments.

Required Textbooks

Billings, Diane & Halstead, Judith A. (2004). Teaching in nursing: A guide for faculty. St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders

Bastable, S.B. (1997). Nurse as educator. Boston: Jones and Bartlett

Technical Requirements

• Access to the Internet, Microsoft Word, Acrobat Reader, Antivirus Software (updated weekly), Microsoft Front Page (HTML editor) and PowerPoint.
• Internet Explorer is the preferred browser for WebCT. Browser settings can be determined and downloaded from the WebCT site.
• Completion of the online WebCT tutorial to facilitate orientation and use of the course components.