PBL for Nurse Educators: Four-Week Workshop & Seminar Series

This short course provides a series of instructional development seminars and workshops designed to assist nurse educators to adapt Problem-Based Learning (PBL) to their educational settings. Individual sessions cover aspects of the paradigm shift, the transition from teacher-centered learning to student-centered learning, spells out the procedure for developing resources such as paper problems and addresses particular outcomes such as critical thinking, group process skills, critical reflection, self-directed learning and information management. Experienced McMaster School of Nursing faculty facilitate sessions in their area of expertise. Each educational session offers a blend of theory and opportunities to develop skills necessary to function as an effective PBL tutor. The following formats are incorporated into all four-week timetables:

– Theoretical content: explored using small group seminars and workshops.
– Experiential learning activities are offered.
– Individual consultations are arranged with affiliates and faculty experts in clinical practice, research and education as well as with our community partners. Participants who wish to take advantage of this opportunity should indicate their interest upon application to the programme.
– Clinical site visits will be organized upon request. Participants who wish to take advantage of this opportunity should indicate their interest upon application to the programme.

During the four weeks on site at McMaster University the Programme Chair and McMaster faculty will assist the participants with adapting and integrating the PBL content during the interactive workshops and seminars. Optional debriefing sessions will be set aside for additional dialogue, enabling participants to further discuss issues specific to their courses or curricula.

Programme participants will take home educational materials related to PBL, compiled in two separate binders. One binder is specific to the current workshop and seminar series and contains a schedule of learning activities, overheads and resource material. The second binder offers an overview of the BScN curriculum at McMaster, with examples of specific learning activities, evaluation methods and a sample paper problem.