"collaborative learning"

MaleRNstudent21, ASN, CNA, RN · Aug 7, 2006

this isn't something you should worry much about. this is the term defined... collaborative learning is a umbrella term for a variety of approaches in education that involve joint intellectual efforts by students or students and teachers. groups of students work together in searching for understanding, meaning or solutions or in creating a product. the approach is closely related to cooperative learning, but is considered to be more radical because of its reliance on youth voice. collaborative learning activites can include collaborative writing, projects,and other activites.

in a nutshell all they are saying is that they are trying to have students to think outside of the picture of what is put in front of them. and this is usually shown or can be demostrated through a group since it gives a well rounded answer. but..... it is more dynamic when it is shown through the voice of one individual. another example that is big in education is "critical thinking" and "context clues". educators have gotten hook on the topic of critical thinking. i get sick of hearing about it since my highschool teacher stressed on it,ugh. and in their senario's, students who have been sucessful in college have been students who were all of these terms. along with time management, studyskills, test taking skills,organization, amongst other things.

i hope this helped you out in your questioning. don't be worried about it though we all build on these skills! i still have alot of these skills i need work on,lol best of luck to you!

br107 · Aug 7, 2006

mostly the reason i ask is because if other programs arent like this, i think id like to go elsewhere. no offense to my classmates at that school, but i dont want them to have much influence on my grades.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Aug 7, 2006

mostly the reason i ask is because if other programs arent like this, i think id like to go elsewhere. no offense to my classmates at that school, but i dont want them to have much influence on my grades.

I used to think the same way until I was in graduate school. If you go that far, there is no way around the collaborative learning process so why avoid it now? By the way, most schools are moving toward this way to educate because it is a reflection of the work place, where people work in teams rather then alone. So you really are not escaping by finding another school.

Besides, there is not much to fear. Group projects are not that bad. Basically, the purpose of Collaborative learning is to get you to work with others. And yes, this means your grades is intertwined with others, but it does not mean you have no control over the behaviors of others in the group.

Some people have talents others do not, so if you are in a group where Sally Sue is not good at one task, she should not be assigned that task. If you are in a group where you do not trust Jo Shmoe to complete a task because he has a history of being a flake, then you discuss this with the group and decide if Joe Shmoe should be assigned something more fitting or discuss if he should remain.

I have, on more then one occasion, dumped team members with the help of other team members and the acceptance of our instructor when all else failed (talking to the team member, assigning new tasks, talking with the group and the team member, talking to the instrucyor... etc.).

However, I have never been in the situation where I am the only one who works hard (which is what I thought would be the case) so do not worry. More then likely your entire team will be hard working with one exception. That one exception can be dealt with in a very diplomatic way. Good luck.

br107 · Aug 7, 2006

yeah i suppose it could be growing process for me.

but i also think, if it may hurt my grades when other programs may not.. then why risk it. i do plan to apply to a graduate DPT program shortly after. actually i was thinking of doing it first because of the gpa issue. the DPT programs i'm considering do consider all grades, even CC grades taken post-bacc.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Aug 7, 2006

br107: you've gotten good information and suggestions here. For what it's worth, you really can't go somewhere else and avoid this: it's a component of nursing school educations. You are not going to find yourself graduating without having worked on group projects, case studies, etc.

Nursing requires that you be a team player, period. One of the things you will be assessed on ANYWHERE you go is how well you contribute to the successes of a group. Perhaps they won't state that up front (there was zero in my program description about this), but I assure you, it will be there. It will be in the form of lab assignments, clinical group assignments, etc.

That doesn't mean that your grade or grades overall is dependent upon others. A small fraction, yes, when the project is such. But everyone is in the same boat. I think you'll find that it's worked into the program pretty seamlessly....it's not a make-you-or-break-you thing.

I just don't want to see you searching for a program that promises you they'll leave out that type of curriculum. If they do, they're lying

br107 · Aug 8, 2006

ok thanks thats exactly what i wanted to know.

since they're all like that, i guess i'll just have to play along.

:saint: :cheers:

MaleRNstudent21, ASN, CNA, RN · Aug 8, 2006

To fully learn alot of time takes more than one person. You only have one brain you can't fully learn with no help of another. Many times in school I enjoy helping others to learn something that comes easy to me. It actually is a good review. Your nursing school making importances on this type of learning is for one reason, "NURSING" is a team work profession. This is why you have; environmental attendents, CNA's,LPN's,RN's,MD's amgonst lots of others. All because giving good aid is a team effort. I actually think a school that makes an importance on collaborative learning would be benefical. I really dont think that they will make it such more of a group grading system. :uhoh3: Your grade will still be a reflecting effort of your own study. Not being to scarcastic but if nursing school was on a point system of what Ed, Sue, and Pam did, well you get the point,lol. Anywho, learning actually comes easier to many when it is a group effort. This is why study groups are so popular. I think you are really taking the collaborative learning thing to serious, but this is only my opinion.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Aug 8, 2006

ok thanks thats exactly what i wanted to know.
since they're all like that, i guess i'll just have to play along.
:cheers:

Good. Play nicely. And welcome aboard :)

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Aug 8, 2006

ok thanks thats exactly what i wanted to know.
since they're all like that, i guess i'll just have to play along.
:cheers:

You will feel better once you are actually learning in the group setting. Right now you have ideas in your head that are not real. They are not real people (your future team mates) and they are not real experiences (future nursing school projects).

Once you have had the opportunity to work in a collaborative setting, you will feel more comfortable. Although there is nothing you can do to change the process, relax. It is not going to be bad!