The Changing Role of Instructors as Healthcare Learning is Transformed

April 1, 2021
April 1, 2021

This blog post continues a series about interactive learning featuring HealthStream’s partner, EBSCO Health.

The healthcare industry is transforming the way it educates and prepares its workforce to meet initial and ongoing learning demands and workforce shortages. One new trend in this transformation is the use of interactive learning, a participatory method of learning that redefines the roles of teacher and student and directly engages students in their own education. HealthStream recently interviewed partner EBSCO Health’s Chief Nursing Officer, Diane Hanson, RN, BSN, MM on their use of interactive learning and trends we are likely to see in this field over the next several years.

What is meant by the term “flipped classroom?”

The flipped classroom is a theoretical framework describing a new way for learners to obtain skills and apply new concepts. The flipped classroom model inverts the traditional approaches of classroom lecture to a more interactive approach. Materials are reviewed by learners at their own pace outside the classroom, most often delivered in an online format. The classroom format is transformed into a discussion forum, experiential hands-on activity, or another form of interactive learning instead of the educator providing only a lecture. The concept can be applied in all forms of learning and enhances learner engagement and overall success.

How does interactive learning change the role of the instructor? (We’ve heard it said that the “sage on stage” becomes the “guide on side.” Is this accurate?)

Yes, interactive learning changes the role of the instructor. Instead of preparing and delivering a traditional lecture in the classroom, the instructor facilitates and enhances learning by engaging in collaborative classroom work with the focus on mastery and application of concepts. Instructors reinforce learning that students have participated in outside the classroom setting, using a coaching model that includes guiding discussion versus lecturing. Interactive learning changes how an instructor prepares the curriculum, chooses and assigns the learning material and engages with students within the classroom setting.

About Diane Hanson RN, BSN, MM; Chief Nursing Officer, EBSCO Health, and Editor in Chief, Dynamic Health

Diane Hanson is the Editor in Chief of Dynamic Health at EBSCO Health. In this role she provides leadership direction for nursing and allied health reference and clinical decision support strategies for the organization.  After spending several years working in a hospital organization in various clinical and leadership positions, Diane has been focused on improving quality and evidence-based practice at the point of care through clinical decision support, health informatics and analytics. Diane brings over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry, most recently as Vice President of Product Strategy & Management at Vizient Inc. Previously she served at Elsevier as General Manager within their CDS division and with Eclipsys (Allscripts) in an EVP leadership role. Diane is a published author and speaker on evidence-based practice and clinical decision support. She holds a degree in nursing from Grand Valley State University and a Masters in Management degree from Aquinas College.

Read the complete article from which this blog post is an excerpt.