Computer Aided Instruction In Nursing Education

involvement of Computer Devices In Education

What are Computer Aided Instruction,Computer Aiding And Problem Solving,Computer Adaptive Testing In Nursing.

What are Computer Aided Instruction

    Computer-aided instruction is an educational method in which specially designed computer programs are delivered to learners as replacement or adjunct to standard classroom or practical experience. 

    This form of instruction may be offered in a classroom setting by an instructor. Instruction may be offered in the form of clinical simulation, where the program reproduces a virtual scenario similar to what the learner would experience in a live, clinical situation; it may also be used in adaptive testing which tailors the testing in response to a learner's ability. 

    Computer-aided instruction may also be offered in an interactive format for purposes of mastering theory in addition to clinical/ psychomotor skills. Ayoub et al. (1998) proposed that use of an interactive computer classroom will help foster the development of critical thinking within groups at all levels of education. 

    Utilization of this model of education becomes increasingly relevant in a basic or advanced practitioner role with the advent of the increasingly restricted clinical time allotments to students and faculty. 

Computer Aiding And Problem Solving 

    Problem-solving skill development is impacted, and not uncommonly, places students with inadequate knowledge and insufficient clinical skills in situations which can ultimately prove harmful to patients (Weis & Guyton-Simmons, 1998). 

    One of the biggest impediments to broader use of the computer as an instructional device in the period from the late 1980s through the early 1990s was anxiety regarding computer use, commonly referred to as "technophobia" ( Geibart , 2000). 

    Age is also a factor, with older students exhibiting more anxiety than younger ones about computer technology. Initial attempts to integrate the computer into education were limited to using the device as an alternative to paper-and-pencil assignments and testing. 

    Gibbons, Bachulis , and Allen (1999) compared a group of 45 students who were asked to design a computer program on a relevant clinical topic and compared this group to another group assigned a paper-and-pencil independent study. 

    Students with the computer assignments expressed more satisfaction with their assignment. Ravert (2002) reviewed nine educational programs (five medical, four nursing) using clinical simulation as a part of their instructional program and found that only one of the nine, at a medical school. 

    located outside the United States, did not score positively as favoring computer simulation as a part of its academic program. Simulation lends itself to a number of learning opportunities, particularly with complex patients and patients using complex medical technologies normally seen in a critical care area. The study of pathophysiological process also lends itself well to simulation (Hart, 2000).

Computer Adaptive Testing In Nursing 

    Computer adaptive testing which adapts to the individual's ability forms the basis for many of the specialty practice and achievement examinations taken by practitioners. 

    Probably the most familiar form of this type of testing is the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX) which was started in 1994. Forker and McDonald (1996) note that with the increased availability of microcomputers in schools, exclusive use of traditional paper-and- pencil testing is changing. 

    It is safe to assume that this would be the case with computer simulation activities as well. It can also be assumed that with the almost daily advances in web-based technology, clinical education as well as education of a more theoretical nature, such as epidemiology or bio ethics, will continue to lend itself to this mode of education.

    The technology surrounding computer-aided instruction and testing will continue to expand greatly in the future. Distance learning will continue to become more widely used and embraced by educators throughout the world. 

    Clinical simulation in the form of virtual reality will take the learner to new heights in very realistic learning adventures. As the use of computers in and out of the classroom continues to increase, research exploring the outcomes of this educational method will be forthcoming.