Applying learning theories to develop teaching strategies for the critical care nurse. Don't limit yourself to the formal classroom lecture.
Learning, as defined by Alspach, is "a change in cognitive, psychomotor, and/or affective behaviors." The teaching strategies reviewed in this article have focused on ones that can affect all three learner behaviors if carefully planned and executed by the instructor. It is also key to provide the content in a manner that will appeal to the autonomy and self-direction of the adult learner, keeping in mind the importance of relating new information to previously learned material. Realizing that learners have different learning styles, the instructor also should assess learning styles and vary teaching methods accordingly. Incorporating some of the learner assessments and teaching strategies discussed here can be a change for both the learner and instructor, but it is consistent with modern learning theory where the focus is on the learner.