100

Learning Objective #1: describe the use of popular films as pedagogy in baccalaureate nursing education.

Learning Objective #2: discuss student learning outcomes using popular films as a teaching tool

---

As with any medical-surgical nursing course, there are a number of objectives that must be met. The format for meeting these objectives has traditionally been the use of the teacher lecturing in the front of the class with time at the end of class for students to ask questions. This may be the most efficient way to get information to students, but it certainly is not active learning. It does not engage students. The course in which popular films has been successfully integrated is an eight credit course with topics ranging from the nursing care of critically ill patients, to the nursing care of the sexual assault victim, patient with a spinal cord injury and those with chronic neurological disorders. An example was to divide the class and have one group view "Million Dollar Baby" while the other group watched "Born on the 4th of July". This provided the students with a context to discuss the concepts of self-determination, patient advocacy, sexuality and the profession of nursing. The use of popular films is one way to provide students with the same experience, knowing that perceptions of the same experience are very different. Using popular film as a backdrop for discussion has been a successful strategy for active learning and positive student outcomes.