Why Do Nursing Instructors Rely So Heavily On PowerPoints To Teach?

[SarahMaria]

I have completed 3 semesters of Nursing School and so far, every lecture instructor has used PowerPoints in the classroom to teach. This method has been used probably 99% of the time. The PowerPoints are provided ahead of time for download on a website, so students can bring them to class. Then, the instructor projects the PowerPoint on a screen and READS it at us for the lecture period (3-4 hours). Occasionally, there is a student question or the instructor may add something.

Why is this type of "teaching" popular? Why am I spending money to go to class to have somebody read to me when I am fully capable of reading the same material in the comfort of my own home? It seems lazy and insulting to my intelligence.

Any thoughts? Does anyone else have this experience? Does anyone benefit from this method of instruction?

[SarahMaria, MSN, RN]

Well I have always believed that your education is what you make of it. The graduate nursing courses that I have had were never dull, though the graduate education courses I have had were. That being said, I think that it is a matter of personal interest because I find nursing much more exciting in general than education. Graduate or undergraduate, dull or exciting, I don't think that the thread was based so much on content as it was on method as the original post was discussing the use of Powerpoint slides in the classroom.

Perhaps some of us are just less critical of our teachers than others. I suppose I have a fairly tolerant nature when it comes to people in general, instructors included. That is probably why I prefer nursing to teaching. I find it difficult to be critical of others and prefer instead to defend and help them. My caretaking nature I suppose. People are always trying to get me to teach classes and I think -why? I have tried it and believe me it is much less stressful to be a nurse.

I am the OP, and I feel the need to defend or re-explain the reasoning behind my starting this thread. I do not bore easily, nor do I wish to be entertained in a classroom. I don't know why my intentions/motives are being described for me. No matter what method is used or what material is taught, I just want to learn something.

I also believe your education is what you make of it. Sitting in an incredibly boring lecture and having an instructor read material at you is not useful for me. I am not criticizing the instructor because I don't know why he/she is instructing in that manner. They could have a very good reason for it, and a lot of students may prefer it. But I go home and teach myself the material. That way may not work for other students. We all learn in different ways.

I would also qualify for a teaching position in my state (not for nursing) as I have a doctorate, but the standards for instructors at some schools are very low (i.e. bachelors).

I just do not like your generalizations about the posters on this thread being "overstimulated" and needing to be "entertained". That is not what people have been saying. Actually the opposite. A lot of people have many years of education and more than one degree (me included). We are discussing variances between pre-PowerPoint teaching and current teaching. Nursing instructors have commented here as well.

[Wishinonastar, BSN]

Sorry that you feel this way, but it is true of society in general that people demand more than boring old lecture now as a direct result of the computer age. It is not meant as an insult, the mind is trained to accept more stimulation now, this is both good and bad. It makes teaching more difficult in some ways. I am certainly not trying to interpret your post- I think your post is pretty straighforward.

These facts about how society and how we use our brains are not my own creation, these are things that are coming to light through research into educational psychology which I recently had to study for a post-grad certificate (Powerpoint slides and all).

As for preparation to teach- as long as you have more education that those you are teaching you are technically qualified- RN to teach LPNS, BSN to teach ADN, MSN to teach BSN. I don't know of any programs in my area that do not require at least an MSN or PhD to teach nursing, but there may be shortage areas that do accept less. I would imagine that those instructors are also going back to school though.

If you are not satified as the previous poster said you can always choose to speak up. You are paying for your education so if you have a strong opinion that you are not learning enough tell someone who can change things instead of getting mad at me.

[CuriousMe]

While I am always interested in constructive feedback, I find it incredibly interesting how students are amazing critics of the teaching methods of nursing educators. Unless a nursing student themselves has been an educator before, I would challenge that person with the question, "What makes you, the novice to my field of expertise, able to judge what methods are the best to convey what I know that YOU need to know to get where you want to go?" Certainly, nursing instructors like anyone else in life exist on a spectrum: a handful are AMAZING and a handful really SUCK (and shouldn't be doing it), most however, land somewhere in the middle. Students often fail to recognize or own their part in the learning process. Many students often have too much going on in their lives (work, family responsibilities, etc). Then when things don't go well academically, it's the fault of the instructor's power points, or the hard exams, etc. When a class does poorly on an exam, I look at the top performers in the class and see how they did. If there are still A's on what the statistics say is a "difficult exam", that means the content still got through. Students may not like that particular instructor's style. Or if that instructor is known to be "hard"; some students won't ever give that instructor the opportunity to be a "good instructor". I would also challenge students to use your voices. By that I mean...if you are not getting what you need...be assertive and let your faculty know what it is you need to understand content and/or be more successful. NO...this does not mean us feeding you answers. But there are several times a semester where a student or group of students approach me with a proposal and I'm willing to re-do something, alter a due date or go over something again simply because I have been presented with an angle I had not previously considered. We are experienced nurses and educators (for the most part), we are NOT mind readers, folks!

Great thread. But no surprise...nurses are excellent critical thinkers who ask the good and right questions!

ERNURSEDAD/Runningstork

Nursing faculty in Chicago

I've never pretended that I'm an educator....what I am though is a student. I have a lot of experience being a student, I've done it for years. I'm proactive in my learning, and know how I learn most efficiently.

This experience allows me to judge whether a professor is efficient in teaching me.

For me, proper lectures (reading from the PowerPoint doesn't count) is very effective. Skits, games and class discussions....not so much.

Either way, I'll figure out a way to learn what I need to learn...but it's always helpful when the Prof spends more time teaching and less entertaining.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

As for preparation to teach- as long as you have more education that those you are teaching you are technically qualified- RN to teach LPNS, BSN to teach ADN, MSN to teach BSN. I don't know of any programs in my area that do not require at least an MSN or PhD to teach nursing, but there may be shortage areas that do accept less. I would imagine that those instructors are also going back to school though.

So how what are the qualifications to teach post-doctoral students? lol

[Wishinonastar, BSN]

Others who already have achieved the degree and who are actively involved with research and publishing making them leaders in their fields. Postdoctoral students are working on research in a particular field, they may be independent or with more advanced researchers who guide them. It is not really the same as a degree-earning program.

[TERRYKOZ]

I graduated last year as a lpn , and felt it was pure laziness.I can read the material myself, I want a instructor who really teachs, thank goodness real teachers dont teach like this.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

Others who already have achieved the degree and who are actively involved with research and publishing making them leaders in their fields. Postdoctoral students are working on research in a particular field, they may be independent or with more advanced researchers who guide them. It is not really the same as a degree-earning program.

I know. I just had to bring it up.

[countryhick]

Actually, it is not our job. The instructor facilitates, but the student is responsible for the learning. Alarmingly, many students have the attitude that it is our job, and those students often do not do well because they do not take responsibility for their own learning.

[countryhick]

I so agree with you. Many students are reluctant to take responsibility for their own learning and blame anyone but themselves when they dont do well. These students are really difficult to help, because they expect someone other than themselves to do the work of learning.

[CrazierThanYou]

Actually, it is not our job. The instructor facilitates, but the student is responsible for the learning. Alarmingly, many students have the attitude that it is our job, and those students often do not do well because they do not take responsibility for their own learning.

Are you saying it isn't your job to teach?

[CuriousMe]

Actually, it is not our job. The instructor facilitates, but the student is responsible for the learning. Alarmingly, many students have the attitude that it is our job, and those students often do not do well because they do not take responsibility for their own learning.

So the Professor has no responsibility regarding the quality of their performance?

I agree the student is responsible for their learning....but surely the Professor is also responsible for teaching?

A student ultimately responsible for their learning shouldn't necessarily mean self-taught.

[CrazierThanYou]

So the Professor has no responsibility regarding the quality of their performance?

I agree the student is responsible for their learning....but surely the Professor is also responsible for teaching?

A student ultimately responsible for their learning shouldn't necessarily mean self-taught.

Of course not. Their sole purpose is to sit around on their butts, drinking coffee and offering criticism while waiting on their next paycheck. :uhoh3: