Open Source

I am amazed by all of the free software applications that are available for use.  I knew about OpenOffice from my previous work experience but not the other software.  I am committed to using GIMPshop and audacity before this semester is over. I was nervous about download software for fear that my computer may crash.  As related in one of the You Tube clips, there is no one to call if you have a problem.  I am less and less nervous about downloading software after having to download for this class. 

I am impressed with the way Wendy Drexler uses technology in her classroom.  I am energized by the student’s engagement.  I liked how the notebook layout kept the student’s work organized and in front of them the entire year.  The students are constantly reminded of how much they have accomplished.  I think seeing your good work motivates you to do more. There are many ways that technology can enrich education.

I am blown away by the very idea of an open source school.  The idea excites and fills me with questions and anxiety.  I do believe that an open source school creates major flexibility for the educational process.  Just think about the benefits to athletes as an example of one group.  They could be on the road competing and never miss an assignment.  The teacher could employ the techniques used by Wendy Drexler creating a connection between student and teacher that is seamless.  Oh my goodness.  What would it be like if walls of education crumbled while the fabric of education was fortified with steel, though the use of open source software?

Student Nurses Blogging to NCLEX Success

My journey to use blogs as a resource to aid my nursing students passing NCLEX on the first attempts continues.  I appreciate the feedback and support I received from my classmates on my last blog.  I found several websites that referenced improving NCLEX passing on the first attempt.  Only one of the resources passed the preliminary evaluation to be recommended to my students based on the content for this week’s class work on website evaluation.  This document is on delegation which in integral to the practice of nursing by a registered nurse.  I will provide this URL to my NCLEX advises this week.  I did find one blog to pass along to my nursing student, allnurses.com.  This web publication has a area, Nursing Discussion, where nursing students can go to read about NCLEX study practices of recent graduates who passed NCLEX on their first attempt.   I will share student feedback on these resources.

References:

Working with Others: A Position Paper

This is a document prepared by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.  This document describes the parameters of delegation.  Delegation is a skill use by the registered nurse to transfer authority to perform a selected nursing task in a selected situation.  There are guidelines for delegation and this document describes those guidelines.  The act of delegation is so integrated in the practice of nursing that evaluation of one’s ability to apply this skill is covered in some detail on the licensing exam given to student nurses upon graduation.

https://www.ncsbn.org/Working_with_Others.pdf

Allnurses.com

Allnurses.com is active online nursing community.  The Nursing Discussion area is where students can visit and read about the study experiences of recent NCLEX test takers and glean ideas that could help them develop their own plan of study. 

http://allnurses.com/nclex-discussion-forum/omg-i-passed-528887.html

Can Student Nurses Blog Their Way to NCLEX Success?

What is NCLEX?  NCLEX is an acronym for the National Council License Examination.  All student nurses take this exam upon graduation in order to practice nursing. I wonder if blogging could aid in supporting student nurse success on this exam on first attempt.  Blogs were discussed in my readings as being a tool that could increase students visit and revisit of topics.  This type of inquiry increases the contact students have with the blog content.  I believe that continued contact with subject matter will support analytic and critical thinking skills.  I am so new to the uses of technology in education.  I am not sure what strategy would be best or most helpful to nursing student gaining varying perspectives and approaches to the content areas on this exam.  I am interested in trying blogging based on the ease of creating the blog site.  I am nervous because of my level of knowledge about the whole process of blogging. I just need to “begin” and see what unfolds.  What suggestions do you have that would help me initiate a blogging experience for my nursing students?