YES! – A workshop for Your Educational Success

The premise of the proposed poster presentation is to inform educators on the need to prepare students prior to attending their first day of class in a face to face classroom environment.  A six hour workshop  was developed to encourage students to take responsibility for their learning and to introduce the concepts of an active learning environment. Information necessary for understanding and identifying different learning styles that have a positive influence on their motivation and active involvement are provided within this workshop.  Orientation and preparation to the rigors of a fast-paced twelve month program are intended to aid the student to be successful while encouraging active participation.  Students should be engaged in their learning and be active participants to promote critical thinking and the preparation for success workshop identifies this need while offering ways to promote engagement.  The approach in the workshop is one of an active teaching -learning environment, with discussion, group work, and hands-on use of technology.  Adult education theory and an active teaching and learning environment are necessary elements in the delivery of information in this workshop. This project is implemented to help alleviate the student attrition problem with a goal to help guide the student to successful learning, graduation, passing the state licensure exam, and being a safe, well-prepared nurse.  During implementation of the workshop, collaborative group exercises in medical terminology, medical math, and a mock lesson are explored.  An emphasis is placed on active participation and the use of I-clickers in the classroom as well as gaming and online resources are examined and practiced.  The goal of the YES! workshop is to give the student a glimpse of what is expected of them, what they can expect from the educators, and why learning styles, study habits, and the need to be actively involved are so important.  The "culture shock" of the adult learner either returning to school from a period of time away, or a student straight from high school, can be overwhelming.  The research is ongoing to determine if the prep course will indeed increase the percent of students that will complete the program and graduate.  Evidence thus far indicates that with the two groups that have attended the workshop, all have been successful up to this point, neither group has reached their graduation date yet.  Analysis of the data will continue with a new group of students entering in February and a another workshop intended for these students to be held in January.