DIGITAL LIBRARY
VIRTUAL CLASSROOM PRACTICUM I AS A TOOL TO SUPPORT LEARNING IN CLINICAL PRACTICE IN NURSING DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CÁDIZ
Cádiz University (SPAIN)
About this paper:
Appears in: EDULEARN11 Proceedings
Publication year: 2011
Pages: 6024-6029
ISBN: 978-84-615-0441-1
ISSN: 2340-1117
Conference name: 3rd International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies
Dates: 4-6 July, 2011
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Abstract:
Background
We present the design of a virtual classroom to support learning clinical practice as an innovation in teaching in nursing, where students, professionals, clinical tutors, and teachers have a common virtual space for communication, cooperation, learning and assessment.

Objectives
The aim objective is:
To design a virtual classroom as a tool to support learning in clinical practice in Nursing Degree from the University of Cádiz.

Methods/Implementation
To design the virtual classroom were taken into account:
- The nursign student´s characteristics at Cádiz University
- The needs which may have nursing students when they start their clinical practice
- Provide reflective, collaborative and participatory learning tools, to strengthen and maintain knowledge, skills and ethical attitudes
- Engage in a continuous improvement of learning

Course Contents
The course is divided into eight sections:
1. Planning
2. Communication
3. Seminars
4. Registration, Monitoring and Evaluation of Clinical Practice
5. Workshop-Lab Virtual Care
6. Virtual Simulation and Operating Sessions Care Clinics
7. OBJECTIVE STRUCTURED CLINICAL EXAMINATION (OSCE)
8. Resources
The virtual classroom is available on the Moodle virtual platform, in the virtual campus of the University of Cádiz and as an Open Course Ware (OCW) in Universia. Available at: URL: http://ocw.uca.es/course/view.php?id=44&topic=all

Results
The virtual classroom is running since March with a good acceptance by all parts. This is the first year and we´ll do a satisfaction cuestionary to evaluate some outcomes

Discussion
We are working in the design and continuous improvement of the virtual classroom Practicum I. We describe our first experience with this virtual learning tool

Conclusion
The outcomes of this year will provide several conclusions, once we finish the academic year.
These conclusions will help us to improve the virtual classroom Practicum I learning tool in the following academic years
Keywords:
Nursing Degree, Nursing Skills Evaluation, Practicum.