Assessing And Improving A Learning Environment

Assessing And Improving A Learning Environment I graduated with Diploma of Nursing seven years ago. After graduated, I work in general surgical ward for five years. Later I went to Middle East to work for a year. Back in Middle East I worked in an oncology ward. Currently I work as a clinical instructor with one of the nursing private college in Kuching. The practical placements for the students are one of the hospitals here. Now, I am attached to the oncology wards, which consists of two wards with thirty beds each. The students that came for their clinical practices are from year one to year three. At the same time, they are other students from other college attach here too. The maximum numbers of students entering the ward are only fifteen per ward. In this assignment I am going to write about how my current workplace is a good learning environment and how to improve it. According to Hood and Leddy, (2003) learning process is a dependant on an interchange between the learner and environments. Since the ward restricts the amount of students, the ward is a conducive place to learn. They do not have to fight for procedures since everyone would have adequate experiences. This is an advantages compare to other wards at the hospital. Learning materials such as pamphlet and drug books are also available at the nursing counters for the staff and students to read. The latest updates or protocols are also displayed in the notice board. To support the learning, it is better if there is a library in the unit or within the hospital compound. With library available, it would provide the staff and the student, books and journals not only from local publisher but also from overseas. Ajuwon, (2003) thinks that computers and internets are important in medical education. In my current ward they are no computers or even internet connection is provided. It is difficult for the students or the ward staff to access information or knowledge during working hours. Through surfing the internet it will enhance their level of knowledge and understanding. Not only for internet access, it would make patients data and records much more accessible. I believe if computers are provided here, the learning process would be more accessible not only for students but also for the staffs. At the same time the students will not assume the role of the instructor as their walking encyclopaedia as student would be more self directed. Ogier, (1986) mentions that the staff nurse is part of the student nurse clinical practice. In my ward the staff nurses are keen to teach the nursing students. They dont mind spending their time to explain and guide the students. Sometimes they will even approach the students if they are keen to do some procedures under their guidance. In my opinion the student have to be more active in their learning. Sweeney, (1986) notes that in nursing clinical practice the better approach for teaching is the student should be more student centred than teacher centred. I always encourage my student to be more initiative and active in their learning. For example when they find some interesting cases, instead of asking me immediately about it, I will ask them to look for the information first and we will discuss again once the information is gathered. I find out by using this method their level of understanding would be more compared to when I would just explaining the subject immediately. Brown, (2009) concluded that interdisciplinary collaboration would enhance learning and prepare the students for their collaborative interactions in their future employment. In my current workplace, the physiotherapist, dietician and social worker would come and review the patient twice a week. I think, if the students could tag them around for a day, the students would benefit a lot. The students would gain new knowledge and would be expose to how other departments worked. Quinn, (1995) argues that learning in clinical placement is much more meaningful and relevant than classrooms. Specialist ward round or grand round are done twice a week. During this time the oncologist, radiologist and pharmacist would do their clinical round together. The students are encouraged to join the round. During these rounds a lot of knowledge would pass around as the three groups including nurses would discuss about patient care and disease. Sometimes the specialist would stay after the ward round just to do bedside teaching with the students. Nursing is all about lifelong learning. Bahn, (2007) mentions that if nurses stops learning, they would not be able to keep up with changes and adapt themselves. There is two way of learning which is informal or formal learning. Spouse, (2000) defines informal learning as learning takes place outside of formal learning but still within the learners learning context. Spouse also mentions that handover reports, report writing and social interactions among colleagues are one way of informal learning. Before the shift starts students are not allowed to touch the patient without listening to the handover. They are encouraged to write down the reports and listen to the handover at the same time. Laird, (1985) mentions that effective learning will be taken place when all sense are stimulated. His study found out that hearing is the second most effective way of learning after seeing. Before the end of the shift I always gather the student for a short discussion. Usually I will pick one stude nt to present her or his patient to the other students. The student will also share their experience among themselves and at the same time if they have any queries it could be clarified there and then. Examples, a first timer student doing dressing would share her experience with the other students and they will do post mortem together under my guidance. Bahn, (2007) agrees that nurse need to continue learning to ensure for safe nursing practice. One of formal learning that available here is continuous nursing education (CNE). CNE is held every first Friday of the month. The talk would be given by nurse educators, ward sisters or by fellow doctors sometimes. From here the staff and students can get their latest updates in nursing care and gain new knowledge. This CNE is important especially for the nursing students since they did not learn in depth about care of patient with chemotherapy and radiotherapy in classrooms. Last month, few of my students manage to attend CNE with the title of Oral care for patient with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Later they shared the knowledge with the rest of their peers. Not only exchange of knowledge and experience happens, but at the same time their level of understanding increase by the act of explaining. Knowles, (1990) agrees that adult should be given proactive approach to learning which involves them in decision making. Most of my students that came here are year one students that had never been into clinical placement. What they had is only theory and minimal practical knowledge. The only practical knowledge they had is hands on the mannequin in skills lab. Humanist believe that people will learn by their own when their need arise. Based on that belief, when students undergo clinical placement, they will be forced to learn skills in order to adapt to their surroundings. Examples are the skills of taking blood pressure. Taking blood pressure is an essential skill for every nurse, without that skill they will not be able to function in their practice area. The students only learn how to take blood pressure in theory and because of that when they came for their practical they have to pick up the skills. Honey and Mumford, (1992) says they are four ways of learning, which are pragmatist, activist, theorist and reflector. I had given the Learning Style Questionnaire (LSQ) to a group of six of first year students. From there I found out majority of them are pragmatist. According to Honey and Mumford, a pragmatist is where the student learns by doing. I showed and ask them to play around with the sphygmomanometer to familiarise themselves with the equipment. Later I showed them the correct way to take the blood pressure by using one of the students as the model. After that, I paired them and rotate each other to take their own blood pressure. Once they are confident enough, I will let them to try to the patient. By doing this, the student would grasp the idea of blood pressure taking. Bloom, (1956) had identified three learning domains which is cognitive, affective and psychomotor. The students need to improve their cognitive because they are lack of knowledge. They have the skills and attitude but most of them cant tell me the rationale or why certain things need to be done in that way. Students need to be more self directed in their own education. Darbyshire, (1993) mentions that not all nursing students are motivated to become self directed and autonomous in their learning. I believe the way for teaching my students are a mixture of student centred and teacher centred learning. If the students depend too much on me as their clinical instructors, they will not be able to use their critical thinking and decide their own learning needs. At the same time, the students need to be told of what and how to learn. In my opinion the students need to slowly transform their own learning from spoon feeding method to an independent leaner in order to have established a strong foundation and to build self confidence for a more effective self directed study later. Gopee, (2008) says that nursing students should be slowly guided into adult learning. The role model that I had chosen is one of my colleagues, Clinical Instructor JV. She is one of my colleagues that also attached to the oncology ward here. Previously she had worked for nearly ten years as a staff nurse in oncology clinic in one of the hospital here. Gray and Smith, (2000) mentions a good mentor is a good role model as they are professional, organised, caring and self confident. I admire her way of work and how she handle the students. She is approachable and open to new ideas. Both of us always discuss how to improve our student learning. I also always ask her advice on how to overcome my problems with the students. Previously she used to be so strict with the students till the students are so scared of her. She is also easily irritated with the weaker students. When she realise that her teaching method is not appropriate she changed her method to a different way. JV also has good rapport with the ward sister and the ward staff. Every morning she will have small ta lk with the staff before starting our work. I believe my working place is a good place for learning environment. Although there are some areas to improve, especially in physical environment of the ward, learning still can take place. The attitude of the leaner also need to change. They have to be more initiative and not depending too much on their clinical instructor to feed them.

Diverse Racial Experience Essay

The chapter by Ruth Frankenberg entitled, â€Å"Introduction: Points of Origin, Points of Departure†, argues that the way one is perceived in society drastically changes their experience and advantage over others. Therefore, white women are often distinguished by their whiteness which gives them a more diverse racial experience (Frankenberg, 1993, pp. 1). With being white comes various additional components that set it apart from the other raced women of the world. Moreover, being a white woman automatically links them to a more favourable position of superiority in the way that they are often identified. This means that they get certain benefits by being white, as colonialism positioned them to have a large portion of control and authority over others. This provides them with the advantage to define the public and its individual beings the way they believe or want it to be. Moreover, they see their whiteness as a normative position in society that is invisible. Frankenberg`s goal is to make whiteness visible so that a white person can identify that they have an advantage over a person of colour by virtue of their skin. She also takes into consideration the intersectionality of class, culture, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality in a white racialized body (Frankenberg, 1993, pp. 1). Colonization is an important factor to Frankenberg because of how it uncovers the concept of whiteness and how it subsequently became associated to a position of authority and power. In the article `The Murder of Pamela George`, the author observes that history of colonial violence permitted white men to annex land that did not belong to them and treat it as though they were entitled to it (Razack, 2004 ,pp.127). This perception has perpetuated the control and authority of white people throughout history. A critique in the second wave of feminism made white feminists reconsider what and for whom they were advocating. The movement of feminism was envisioned to include all women but it only targeted one specific group of white middle class women. This occurred because the women could only see there suffering from their particular standpoint. This is seen in the article â€Å"The Problem That Has No Nameâ€Å" by Betty Friedan since she assumes that all women are homogeneous and all have the same lived experiences. She does not consider race, class, and sexuality as a factor in feminism (1997). White women mostly consider their whiteness as undetectable and thus not subject to racism (Frankenberg, 1993, pp. 3). These white feminists in the second wave were unintentionally being racist towards other women; this made them unsure about how to precede and resolve this issue (Frankenberg, 1993, pp. 4). Frankenberg educated herself about racism by positioning herself to learn from the standpoint of women of colour. Enakshi Dua stated in her article that, in order to understand how race and gender are interconnected one has to listen to the lived experiences of women of colour (2005, pp. 64). Frankenberg followed this method formulating questions that she wanted to investigate to find out how racism affects a white women`s life and how society propagates racism through societal means. After answering these questions Frankenberg proceeded to figure out how white women can fight against racism. Most white women believe that their race is invisible and do not realize that it gives them a distinct experience in the world. This is because the dominant class structures society and thus normalizes whiteness. White women and women of colour have distinct experiences that are subject to how they experience racism. Whiteness is socially constructed and it does affect a white women`s life. However, white women usually tended to regard racism as something that has no effect on them and that women of colour only have to live through (Frankenberg, 1993, pp. 6). This belief does not put the onus on the white people and it does not identify the perpetrator of the subjection. Racism does not just happen, it is constructed (Tim Wise 2005). Therefore, it impacts the lives of white women which makes race and gender intersectional for all women not just women of colour. There is a denial in the observations that there is one specific dominating male gender. There is also an abundance of only white women`s experiences by this masculine hegemon. After women realized that the world view did not only have to be seen on a male standpoint the world started to shift views (Frankenberg, 1993, pp. 8). Women of colour now want to focus on a standpoint from a radicalized point of view in order to stop racism. Moreover, since white people are the oppressors they cannot see how their situation is reinforcing racism. People of colour are the oppressed and know exactly how they are underprivileged. Subsequently, women of colour were the first to see how gender, race and class forms a persons experience in life (Frankenberg, 1993, pp. 8). White women did not see their race as something that was constructed. They did not see themselves as racialized because they were coming from a position of privilege. This position for a white person was normalized throughout American history. Therefore, in order to deconstruct race white women have to admit it is something that affects them (Frankenberg, 1993, pp. 11). Race is in a fluid motion and changes constantly with society because it is an economic and political construct. Historically, the white dominance was vindicated because of false biological account that white people were superior (Frankenberg, 1993, pp. 13). This biology justified colonization as well as the enslavement of people of colour that soon followed. The justification shifted to culture as the reason that made people inferior and if they integrated with American culture they would achieve success on merit like white people. However, this belief kept blaming people of colour for their position in society.People of colour were first seen as different from white people, then there was an embrace of colour blindness, and finally people realized that they needed to be able to see the differences in society so they can explain them. This last movement’s purpose was to make people aware of race; this was led by the people of colour themselves. They did not want to be invisible because there situation was not improving because people were ignoring the underlying problem. The racialization of people of colour and white people was constructed with colonization. The European culture was embedded into the way the United States constructed its country. This constructed whiteness as belonging and being a person of colour as an outsider (Dua 2005, pp. 60). The dominant western culture –which was white- positioned itself to dominant over the other races. This created the standard citizen that belonged and made people of colour not included in the so called superior western culture. Frankenberg`s argument illuminates how the dominant class rationalized whiteness as not being racialized. Colonization formed the dominant race and reproduced it through society. By normalizing whiteness the white people did not need to consider how it benefited them and subsequently how it negatively affected people of colour. By naming whiteness, Frankenberg will be able to pinpoint how that perception can change so that people can be equal even with there differences. In conclusion, by admitting that white people are racialized will assist anti-racist feminists in their mission to stop the racialization of all people. This would stop white people from believing that they are the only ones that belong in North America and eventually create a system based on meritocracy rather then privilege by virtue of a persons skin.

Top Praxis Essay Examples Reviews!

Top Praxis Essay Examples Reviews! The Unusual Secret of Praxis Essay Examples You are going to have a more clear perspective about how to approach this issue available. Have a good idea of what you need to accomplish, and create it like you were teaching another person. From time to time, the best method to learn and understand new information is by way of seeing and understanding work which is already completed. There are a number of ways to do so and you'll want to utilise all your abilities. Key Pieces of Praxis Essay Examples To distinguish between the kinds of essays is only a matter of identifying the author's objective. Writing a high school essay if you've got the tips about how to do essay effectively. You're able to use narrative essay examples high school to find out more. High school essay examples incorporate a number of short essays like narrative, persuasive and analytical. Possessing good essay examples provides the reader an in-depth and on-the-court idea about what a well structured and coherent essay appears like. At length, if you are going to write and essay but have very little knowledge or interest in the topic, don't forget that there are lots of custom essay writers which will gladly do the task for you. If you're to really gain from model essays, you want to understand how to read the techniques of the writer'. All essays will have a certain topic that's either one you choose or one which is provided for you. The Downside Risk of Praxis Essay Examples A fantastic persuasive argument will use the latest data and data from verified sources. You may also be penalized for presenting the info from samples as your own. You will then have to approach the subject by gathering, generating, and evaluating credible sources to back up your evidence. For your debate to be a strong one you always need to double check to see whether there are enough data and information which can back up your viewpoint. What You Should Do to Find Out About Praxis Essay Examples Before You're Left Behind The first thing you're likely to have to do is to pick a topic that has more than one clear side. The issue is that once students start, they neglect to keep the remainder of the paper interesting. It is crucial to mention that the idea doesn't need to be a good one. If you are in possession of a good idea and you wish to be straightforward and introduce it immediately as it is unique, do what you would like. The Little-Known Secrets to Praxis Essay Examples Many institutions argue that standard textbooks continue to be the thing to do. The ways students ought to be taught about their well-being. The methods to use social media to raise students' productivity. The methods to improve the social responsibility of students. High school essay writing is a typical classroom activity and is also part of several regular examinations. Man y people think that high school entrance essays are comparatively less difficult to write than college entrance essays, that's the reason there are fewer places where you could get assistance with higher school entrance essays. Therefore, it's important to ensure your high school entrance essay is well organized. The sample high school admission essays we've got on our page can be useful to you or your pals. You may use the samples as a foundation for working out how to write in the suitable style. 1 photo essay idea I have always wished to try is to photograph one landmark from a number of different vantage points. The problem here is that it takes so many parts of paper to write just a single textbook. Ultimately, the detail of true speech makes the scene pop. The Do's and Don'ts of Praxis Essay Examples In conclusion, it looks like assignment essays continue to get a prominent part in tertiary education as an assessment tool. There's several essays completed by them. Af ter which, it's going to be simpler for you to start. The Importance of Praxis Essay Examples When you're writing, attempt to prevent employing the exact words and phrases over and over again. Narration is telling a story from a particular viewpoint, and there is normally a reason behind the telling. Expository essay utilizes formal language to go over someone or something. Essay writing examples in doc format like the ones given may help direct you in writing a superior composition. When selecting high school essay format, the initial step is to spot the sort of essay you want to write. The principal portion of a brief essay is known as the body. In this manner, you are going to have an optimal essay in which you aren't becoming the one-sided moderator. Bridget's essay is quite strong, but there continue to be a couple little things that could be made better. Stephen's essay is quite effective. The very first sentence of the essay has to be interesting enough to create the reader read on. To compose an impressive short essay, especially during an examination, you have to be in a position to hit the question and give a straightforward answer while at the exact same time observing the most suitable structure of an essay. First and foremost it's vital to be sure you comprehend the essay question fully and your essay answers each part of the question adequately. Though the conclusion paragraph comes at the conclusion of your essay it ought not be considered an afterthought. You should develop a notion and offer some evidence. You'll also be advised about what to include and what things to avoid, in your thesis statement. A great thesis statement will accomplish precisely the same thing.

Invisibility in I, Too, Sing America Essay - 1110 Words

Invisibility in I, Too, Sing America Ralph Ellisons novel Invisible Man, focuses around the main character (whom we only know as Narrator) claiming himself as invisible. The narrator does not refer to himself as invisible in the light that nobody can physically see him, but instead that nobody sees him for what kind of person he truely is. The poem, I, Too, Sing America, written by Langston Hughes, also focuses around the invisiblity (but in more of an indirect way) of a black slave. Although the two peices seem completely different upon first view, the ideas of both are the same. Both the poem and novel relate to eachother through race and the invisibilyof the main characters portrayed. I, too, sing America is the†¦show more content†¦Although the narrator is dubbed a citizen, he gets abused and treated extremely unfairly. For example, when he is made to fight other black teens in a battle royal. The fight is a pure show of disrespect and abuse to the black citizens of the country. The narrator struggles to get away from second class citizenship and become a real part of America. The poem, I, Too, Sing America, is about a black slave who is a servent to a white family. (The type of slave who lives indoors; cooking, cleaning, and doing general indoor house chores.) He/She says that whenever company comes over to the house, he is sent into the kitchen to eat (but in the eats well and grows strong). Tomorow, as the narrator states, nobody will ask him to eat in the kitchen, and the whites will see how beautfiul he is, and be ashamed. The book is roughly the same story; about a young black man struggling to gain an identity in a very racial, white society. The poem, seemingly about a slave eating dinner, really represents slavery and the African peoples progress since slavery. Sending the narrator to eat in the kitchen is a sign of disrespect and failure to see past skin color. Slavery went on for years and years, but the slaves grew strong in hope that they would one day be free (like in the poem, And grow strong.). The next verse of the poem is about how tomorrow, noone will dare send the him into the kitchen, and that they will be ashamed and see how beautiful he is.Show MoreRelatedThe Reoccurring Blues Music And The Blindness Of The Book The Song 1453 Words   |  6 PagesTrouble I ve Seen† by Louis Armstrong, Louis sings â€Å"Sometimes I m up, sometimes I m down, ohh, yes Lord Sometimes I m almost to the ground, oh yes, Lord Nobody knows the trouble I ve seen†. The narrator claims â€Å"Perhaps I like Louis Armstrong because he s made poetry out of being invisible† (Ellison, 10). This statement by the narrator is ironic because the narrator is literally being told that society is blinded to the problems African Americans are facing every day, but he is too blinded himselfRead MoreSight and Blindness in The Invisible Man Essay exa mple2451 Words   |  10 Pagesliving in. By looking at instances in which vision is of great consequence, the most central themes of the novelÂâ€"sight and blindnessÂâ€"can be analyzed. Beginning in the prologue, the narrator shows to the reader how he is invisible. He tells us, I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me (3). He insists that people cannot see him, not because of their physical eyes, but because of their inner eyes, which is a reference to their thoughts on race. Since he is a black manRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesTiffany Ruby Patterson, Zora Neale Hurston and a History of Southern Life Lisa M. Fine, The Story of Reo Joe: Work, Kin, and Community in Autotown, U.S.A. Van Gosse and Richard Moser, eds., The World the Sixties Made: Politics and Culture in Recent America Joanne Meyerowitz, ed., History and September 11th John McMillian and Paul Buhle, eds., The New Left Revisited David M. Scobey, Empire City: The Making and Meaning of the New York City Landscape Gerda Lerner, Fireweed: A Political Autobiography