Video: Using Facebook to Improve Critical Thinking Skills in Online Classes

Recently, as part of my "Learn with Michelle" series, I had the pleasure to interview +sabita persaud, Assistant Professor in the Notre Dame of Maryland School of Nursing, about her intriguing application of Facebook in her accelerated online graduate nursing course.  In this video, you will learn how Dr. Persaud transformed a medical case study (with permission from the individual's family) into a fictitious Facebook profile that her students "friended."  As Persaud played the role of the patient, she revealed mysterious symptoms and reached out to her "friends" for help.  The students responded by applying and synthesizing ideas from their learning units, offering opportunities for deeper learning and formative assessments to prepare for their exams.

What were the results of this experiment? How did the quality of the student interactions compare with previous activities, constructed in an LMS discussion board?  Watch the video and find out!

This video may also be viewed on YouTube.

Hangout! Using Twitter & Facebook to Improve Critical Thinking in an Online Graduate Nursing Class

Hangout On Air!

Using Twitter & Facebook to Improve Critical Thinking
in an Online Graduate Nursing Class

Wednesday, July 10th

9am-9:30am PST/ 11-11:30am CST

no registration required
View Live at: http://facultyecommons.org/learn-with-michelle-hangouts-on-air/
Tweet questions during the Hangout with hashtag #learnwmpb

In this Hangout on Air, I will interview Dr. Sabita Persaud, of the Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Nursing who will discuss how and why she facilitated a 7-week nursing case study by dawning a fictitious patient identity.

Throughout the online course, students followed and responded to Facebook updates and Tweets from the patient, “Cee Veeay,” who shared evolvingly complex symptoms and reached out for advice through social media exchanges.  Students actively engaged in lengthy discussions with “Ms. Veeay,” offering her advice about her symptoms, leading to greater student engagement, critical thinking, and increasing the relevancy of their learning experience. These interactions prepared students for their exams. Dr. Persaud will also share how this teaching approach refreshed her own engagement as a college instructor!

I am so excited to speak with Dr. Persaud about this inventive teaching approach and I hope you will listen in and ask questions via the Twitter backchannel!