Do you share teaching materials with other professors?

[SafetyNurse1968, BSN, MSN, PhD]

I have asked a fellow faculty member for access to their PowerPoints and exam questions, and they have refused.

I'm a new faculty member, teaching pathophysiology for the first time. I've been teaching for almost 25 years, 10 of those in the field of nursing, so I feel pretty confident in how to go about creating materials for the course. There are two other faculty members teaching the course who have been at the school for many years. I approached them, asking if I might see their materials so I would know if I am on the right track - am I teaching at the right level? The faculty keep referring me to the syllabus and the course outcomes, which I am already using to design my test blueprints.

Here is an example of why I am nervous: I was prepping to teach acid base (using the syllabus, the course objectives, the textbook and textbook PowerPoints as guidelines for my lecture, while adding my own flavor and flair to it -I like to throw in videos, sample test questions and case studies). While I was prepping for this content, I asked a senior nursing student about her memories from the course and she told me she is still using the tic tac toe method and how great it was that she had been taught how to solve acid base problems in path. I almost had a heart attack - there was nothing in the syllabus, powerpoints or textbooks to suggest that I go to that level in a pre-nursing course. I spent many hours revamping my course to include acid base problem solving. I never had to take path... I don't have a solid idea of what a pre-nursing student needs to get from this course...My insecurity isn't from a lack of understanding of WHAT to cover, it's confusion over how DEEP to go...what level?

I've always shared everything I create with anyone who wants it, and I've never had faculty at other institutions refuse requests in the past.

I've spoken directly to the faculty member who is the course coordinator and here are the reasons for not sharing:

1. I might copy their stuff

2. I need to create materials to match my own teaching style

3. I might give her stuff to the students and/or the students may share her test questions with each other

4. They don't trust me because they don't know me

5. They've asked other professionals whom they trust and they said that sharing test items and PowerPoints is not best practice.

CONUNDRUM:

I'm still baffled - I've looked through the literature briefly and can't find anything to suggest that sharing test questions and PowerPoints is not best practice. With the NCLEX as the end game, it seems important that all the students in the program get a similar experience in our course. As a solution, I sent a copy of the most recent test I wrote and asked them to review it for me. I've also suggested that the instructors for the course might get together and write some exams in a collaborative fashion.

I'd love to know what you think? Do you share? If so, what? Why or why not? Do you have any research to back up your position on sharing? I've written to the NLN to see if they can direct me to someone who might have an answer. In my doctoral education I recall reading multiple articles and books about the importance of collaboration, but I'm looking for specific research on best practice in nursing education regarding sharing of materials, most specifically, test items and PowerPoints.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Staff development here rather than academic, but we willingly share to other departments and with other facilities within the parent organization. We've actually discarded some of our own orientation paperwork and adopted what the other facility was using. There's another department that would like to use our preceptor course (being in a specialty area, the one done by the inpatient nursing floors didn't fit so we made our own).

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

It's ridiculous that your colleagues are not sharing their materials with you. It helps to have a basic template that you can then revise to fit your style, especially for a someone teaching a course for the first time.

My issue has always been (and still is) when my colleagues take my materials without asking, don't make changes to the materials but do remove my name from the materials and put their names on them. But, that's a whole different discussion...

[caliotter3]

Sounds as if collaboration is not a strong point at this institution. Make sure you never forget your winter parka to protect you from the deep freeze you are receiving from your "colleagues".

[HOPEforRNs, ADN, BSN, MSN]

There is a lot of collaboration and material sharing where I work. I have never had anyone tell me "no" when I asked to see their course materials or help with mine.

[SunSandSurf, ADN, MSN]

On 11/17/2019 at 10:06 AM, HOPEforRNs said:

There is a lot of collaboration and material sharing where I work. I have never had anyone tell me "no" when I asked to see their course materials or help with mine.

It sounds like you work at a great place. I saw one of your other posts about your schedule and pay. I'm like you, I'm a mom and I want the flexibility to work during the academic school year. I know you work at a state school, but what state are you in? I live in Ohio, but I don't believe our state schools are part of the teacher's retirement and benefits. I'm currently searching for a job and organization that would suit my needs. Working collaboratively on materials sounds like the cream of the crop.

[HOPEforRNs, ADN, BSN, MSN]

1 hour ago, SunSandSurf said:

It sounds like you work at a great place. I saw one of your other posts about your schedule and pay. I'm like you, I'm a mom and I want the flexibility to work during the academic school year. I know you work at a state school, but what state are you in? I live in Ohio, but I don't believe our state schools are part of the teacher's retirement and benefits. I'm currently searching for a job and organization that would suit my needs. Working collaboratively on materials sounds like the cream of the crop.

I'm actually in Ohio! Happy to connect with you if you'd like.