Abstract:
In a radical departure from the traditional lecture - tutorial mode, a group of 69 registered nurses enrolled in a two-week intensive summer semester course on research methodology used group investigations as their major learning mode.
The objectives of employing this approach were to (1) make use of the wealth of practical experience these nurses brought with them to the learning situation, (2) give students control and ownership of their own learning, (3) provide opportunities for genuine cooperative peer group interaction, (4) develop students' organisational and presentation skills, and (5) provide experiences in learning how to learn.
Each group (5 to 7 members ) selected a major research area (eg.
historical research, survey research, experimental research, etc.), planned the method of enquiry, identified a pilot research study, developed a research proposal, reviewed related literature, collected and analysed data, exchanged ideas, formulated conclusions, decided on the best way to summarise and present the data, and worked together to produce a group report which was presented and displayed to the whole group on the final day of the course.
Organisational procedures will be presented, difficulties analysed and the results of this approach discussed and illustrated with data from work with pre-service teacher education students and mature age TAFE lecturers. Implications for implementing this approach in adult learning will be outlined.
The objectives of employing this approach were to (1) make use of the wealth of practical experience these nurses brought with them to the learning situation, (2) give students control and ownership of their own learning, (3) provide opportunities for genuine cooperative peer group interaction, (4) develop students' organisational and presentation skills, and (5) provide experiences in learning how to learn.
Each group (5 to 7 members ) selected a major research area (eg.
historical research, survey research, experimental research, etc.), planned the method of enquiry, identified a pilot research study, developed a research proposal, reviewed related literature, collected and analysed data, exchanged ideas, formulated conclusions, decided on the best way to summarise and present the data, and worked together to produce a group report which was presented and displayed to the whole group on the final day of the course.
Organisational procedures will be presented, difficulties analysed and the results of this approach discussed and illustrated with data from work with pre-service teacher education students and mature age TAFE lecturers. Implications for implementing this approach in adult learning will be outlined.