Running head: EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY 1

Educational Philosophy

Katherine Humphrey BSN, RN

University of St. Mary

Dr. Linda King

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Educational Philosophy

My educational philosophy revolves around the belief that education must be student-

centered and driven by current nursing practice. As an educator, I also believe that my role is to

foster a relationship with students that places them a partner in their own education. Nursing is

complex and students need to have a strong base of general knowledge and hands-on skills. This

basic information must then be combined with meaningful learning experiences to transform

information into a foundation for critical thinking skills.

Implementation

Creating student-centered learning experiences that foster critical thinking, in my opinion,

is best completed by the integration of a problem-based learning style. In the use of problem-

based learning, students are presented with a defined problem, they then analyze, formulate

goals, acquire any needed information and then synthesize and test the new knowledge

(Mastrian, McGonigal, Mahan, & Bixler, 2011). Through this process, students will learn to

apply knowledge and begin forming the foundation for critical thinking, a crucial skill in nursing

practice.

I can also see the integration of a humanistic approach to my teaching. Through an

understanding of the learning style of students, which requires the completion of the Visual,

Aural, Read/write, and kinesthetic (VARK) questionnaire or similar, I can vary and modify

learning experiences, allowing for optimal learning for each student (VARK Learning Limited,

2017). I can then guide learning, assisting students to identify and use the various learning styles

to become an accountable part of the teaching and learning process. This gives students the

knowledge and skill to ask for their learning needs to be met. Adding this as the foundation of

my classroom will also maintain student-centered learning.

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To create meaningful learning experiences, I will implore the use of Lev Vygotskys Social

Development Theory, providing a sociocultural environment that supports learning. As

instructors, we are charged with being the student's mentor. Although instructors are easily

defined as a role model, this role can easily extend to other students who have a particular

knowledge of benefit. These roles are very important and should be fostered through clinical

experience time, interactive classroom experiences, and group projects and case studies (Bahn,

2001). A student being able to identify a role model will be beneficial as they transition into

being a practicing nurse.

Conclusion

My current teaching experience consists of teaching practicing nurse the skills and

knowledge associated with forensic nursing, pediatric clinical instructing, and unit-based hospital

education. This semester, however, Ive learned a great deal by observing the academic world.

Im often taken aback at how often education is not student-centered, but rather the unchanged

pedagogy of the past. Students at times do not see their instructor as an MKO, but rather a source

of frustration and an obstacle to learning. By applying problem-based learning, a humanistic

approach, and creating an environment that fosters the open asking of questions, I believe I have

been able to create successful student-centered learning in tutoring sessions.

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References

Bahn, D. (2001). Social learning theory: Its application in the context of nurse education. [PDF].

Nurse Education Today, 21, 110-117. Retrieved from

http://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/43716428/Bahn_Social_Learning_The

ory.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAIWOWYYGZ2Y53UL3A&Expires=1492575671&Sign

ature=zeSlVX9RAyljtOdKaAmJHXAz1bM%3D&response-content-

disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3DBahn_Social_Learning_Theory.pdf

Mastrian, K. G., McGonigle, D., Mahan, W., & Bixler, B. (2011). Integrating technology in

nursing education: Tools for the knowledge era. Sudbury, Mass.: Jones and Bartlett

Publishers.

VARK Learn Limited. (2017). The VARK questionnaire: How do I learn best? Retrieved from

http://vark-learn.com/the-vark-questionnaire/