EVALUATING TECHNOLOGY FOR LEARNING

Evaluating Technology for Learning

Sherly Boulay

NURSING 6320: Integrating Technology Into Nursing Education

Walden University

Description of Hypothetical Scenario

It generally helps students of nursing to make use of technology in their learning processes. The usage of technology also enables students to create an interactive setup that encourages student participation. This factor is often accounted for as an important factor that reduces the complications that come forth as a result of geographic disadvantages.

Audience

The audience of this paper includes students and teachers in general. It is essential to note that the audience is not limited to students and teachers pertaining to nursing education. This is because of the fact that technology that is being used to facilitate nursing education is also proving to be effective and useful in the case of other disciplines as well. Therefore, it would not be incorrect to make use of this discussion for the development of an understanding of the utility of learning technologies to education in general.

Setting & Purpose

The audience for this paper includes students and teachers alike. While the purpose of the paper is to shed light on the advantages of the developments in technology to learning, the paper seeks to shed light on the manner in which these advantages are present. In this regard, the purpose of the paper is to add, through a SECTIONS framework (Billings, 2000), to the body of literature that pertains to the advantages of the developments in technology to learning; particularly in the case of nursing education.

SECTION Framework

The SECTION framework will shed light on multiple dimensions. The usage of the framework is perfectly justified for the purpose of this paper in light of the multilateral approach that the SECTION framework provides. In the following paragraphs, the SECTION framework will enable the development of a comprehensive understanding of the manner in which developments in learning technology have assisted in bringing about improvements in nursing education. The variety of aspects that the SECTION framework will cover helps to ensure that every aspect of the subject of the discussion is clearly elaborated.

The Student Context

The use of simulation in the training of pre-licensure nursing students is becoming increasingly popular. This methodology, a type of experiential learning, is embraced largely due to the belief that students learn better by experience compared to other types of learning such as lecture format. Students currently in nursing school have been exposed to technology since birth and seem to do better with the use of technology in learner-centered teaching methods (Billings & Halstead, 2009). Despite the popularity of simulation, this time-intensive and costly method of teaching has been accepted with little evidence to support its efficacy. Effective nursing practice includes both technical and cognitive components. As such, simulation presents unique opportunities for skill practice and evaluation.

Ease of Use and Reliability

Simulation is used predominantly to allow student access to information and to support existing face-to-face teaching and learning, and remains a peripheral part of the educational provision in many organizations. Where there are pockets of wider development and ...