Abstract:

Nursing students from the South Pacific Islands undertaking a diploma in an Australian context have difficulty transposing theoretical knowledge. This is often due to limitations in language and understanding the Australian cultural environment. Using the expressive arts in teaching practice with a focus on instructional design and reflection enables teachers to encourage learners to describe their own human experience. The inclusion of the expressive arts in nursing curriculum has the ability to create a communication tool through the senses using music, literature and the fine arts as a medium. Embedded into the Diploma of Nursing curriculum is a module that focuses on cultural diversity and critical thinking. The assessment of this module requires students to critically reflect on the Australian way of life and interpret their understanding using a form of the expressive arts. The ability of the expressive arts to be transformative in education is well documented. The students are all International from the South Pacific Islands and have received a scholarship from AusAID to further their education in Australia The aim of this study is to measure the effectiveness of using expressive art to enhance cultural awareness and to develop transcultural communication skills. Also to explore further the concept of art as an effective out-come based learning tool in a culturally diverse environment. Both qualitative and quantitative data will be gathered and analysed to determine the effectiveness of the inclusion of expressive arts in nursing curriculum. The Bigg’s (1999) structure of the observed learning outcome (SOLO) taxonomy will be applied to the research.Results of the study will be collated to determine if incorporating the expressive arts in nursing curriculum is an effective teaching and learning tool and if the students have demonstrated higher order thinking skills through reflection and instructional design.

Keywords:

Arts, health, curriculum, critical thinking skills.