Teaching Undergraduates in Both Worlds: East and West

Tuesday, 8 July 2008: 3:35 PM
Elizabeth B. Simon, PhD, RN, CCRN, CEN , Scool of Nursing, Hunter College, City Univeristy of New York, New York, NY

Learning Objective 1: compare and contrast the pedagogical strategies that influence undergraduate nursing education in both worlds: East and West.

Learning Objective 2: discuss research opportunities in distance education technology, faculty development and cultural diversity.

An opportunity to teach multinational students is an enriching and fulfilling experience for any nursing faculty member. Many nursing instructors have students from many different nations coming together in nursing classrooms. However, to travel and teach in two different parts of the world is not common. The author, a nursing faculty member in the United States, is teaching students in India via video conferencing and in traditional methods by traveling to India. The prospects of global connections and wider influence for the full-time nursing faculty are educationally gratifying and conducive to lifelong learning and faculty development. Such broad experience of the faculty can support adoption of pedagogical measures needed to enhance program effectiveness. The global connections help the students also, especially in gaining an exposure to global practices and standards. Since many students from Nepal attend nursing programs in India, the author has been able to directly observe and analyze the cultural differences between Indian and Nepalese students, East Asian students and American students and how they influence nursing education. Numerous opportunities for comparative education research and evidence-based practice are available through this type of teaching experience. A systematic comparative study will be presented.