Authors

  1. Pierce, Linda L. PhD, RN, CRRN, FAAN
  2. Gies, Cheryl E. DNP, APRN, CNP

Article Content

Virtual classrooms with large numbers of nursing students (N = 100+) can provide a unique partnership among instructors, invited/expert speakers (librarians, pharmacists, practitioners, physical/occupational therapists, or researchers/statisticians), and students. For instance, in a 2-hour class via Remo (https://remo.co), an easy-to-navigate platform, or another similar program, the instructor and librarian spend the first hour in presentation mode on identifying a PICOT (population/patient problem, intervention, comparison, outcome, time) question or searching literature databases, or the therapist and instructor demonstrate functional, cardiac, or pulmonary assessment. After the presentation, student groups (n = 5) spend the second hour at "breakout tables" in conversation mode for private discussions where the computer screen displays tables each with 6 chairs and participants pictured. Together, students at their table complete hands-on projects/worksheets, for example, writing PICOT questions, exploring research databases, or practicing/documenting assessment strategies. The instructor or speaker briefly joins the student tables offering guidance/encouragement and answers to students' questions, or uses the chat features to message one or all students. Private messaging is an option for individual students. Class time concludes in presentation mode with each student table teaching-back project outcomes to the entire classroom and/or submitting the worksheet, plus completing individual, anonymous class evaluation poll in the question/answer function. The instructor and speaker can offer optional electronic message or phone feedback after class to individuals or tables of students. Virtual-world classroom partnerships stimulate student group interest in topics, creating an active environment for dialogue that supports learning through interaction/collaboration.