Thank you all for continuing to read this newsletter - even when last week's subject line was a bit ... off ๐คฆโโ๏ธ. The mysterious "๐ How to" was not my intention - I started to write it, got distracted, and it was sent before I got to complete it. These things happen I guess, but I appreciate if you still read it! ๐ค
And that brings us to the final week of this series - Creating Captivating Presentations.
If you want to catch up on previous weeks, you can read about each topic below:
โWeek 1 - Guiding Principles
โWeek 2 - Creating Engaging Visuals
โWeek 3 - Text and Font Selection
โWeek 4 - Using Color and Contrast
โWeek 5 - Storyboarding
๐โโ๏ธ Genuine Engagement Starts with Interaction
Engagement is elusive. ๐ฎ Getting your learners to participate, interact, and apply concepts theyโre learning is challenging.
But active learning techniques can bridge this gap! When you incorporate active learning into your presentations, you transform them from passive lectures into more immersive experiences. Your studentsโ expectations change - from thinking they will have a relaxing lecture to daydream through, to knowing that the expectation is to interact, apply what they are learning, and roll up their sleeves to take accountability for their learning.
Donโt worry - you donโt have to overhaul your entire presentation to make it more interactive. Start by moving one small section of lecture out of class. Then, insert a short active learning technique. If you want to learn more about this slow transition process, the Active Learning Roadmap Audio Course is a great resource (itโs free!).
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๐ฏ 3 Easy Ways to Get Started with Active Learning
Ready to make your next session more interactive? Here are three simple yet effective active learning techniques you can easily weave into your presentations:
๐ก Think-Pair-Share: Ask a thought-provoking question, give everyone a minute to reflect, and then have them discuss with a partner before sharing insights with the whole group. This format boosts participation and deeper engagement.
๐ก Visit the Idea Bank: This collection of articles includes a wealth of active learning tools that you can quickly adapt to any classroom or clinical setting. Most include a worksheet template that you can modify to suit your needs. For a practical and ready-to-implement activity, check out the fishbone analysis.
๐ Interactive NCLEX-style questions: Use live polling or practice questions to gauge understanding and spark discussion. Tools like Poll Everywhere, Mentimeter, and Kahoot make this interactive element easy to implement.
These strategies are not only easy to incorporate but can also instantly elevate the engagement in your presentations.
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BreakoutRN Products
If youโre ready to take it to the next level, consider exploring some of BreakoutRNโs interactive learning tools!
๐ Interactive Unfolding Case Study Decks: Instead of just discussing patient scenarios, have participants work through clinical decision-making in real time. It gets them actively problem-solving, working in a group, and they are a great discovery learning tool.
Individual Patient Decks
Explore individual scenarios for specific conditions.
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Clinical Unit Decks
Explore case studies with multiple patients.
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๐ Clinical Decision Card Decks: Students pick from 25+ clinical red flags or abnormal findings. Using their assigned patient from clinical, lab, or a case study, they imagine caring for them with the new information from the card. These scenarios build clinical judgment skills and confidence!
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๐ผ๏ธ Final Thoughts on Captivating Presentations
Remember, in the previous article, we discussed how the recommended lecture time is only 5-7 minutes at a time. Expertly pairing and alternating between short lecture sessions and active learning tools helps students move from basic understanding to application - all in the same class period.
Just remember, not every activity needs to be elaborate and involved; it can be simple and easy to implement. And you don't have to completely "flip" your classroom all at once. Start small, adding one or two activities a semester, and before you know it, you will have created an active learning classroom that you love!
Thatโs a wrap on this series! I hope itโs left you inspired to revamp your slide deck and add in some engaging content. If you do, Iโd love to see your before/after images - just send them to me at martha@breakoutRN.com.
Iโll see you next week! Until then, take care of yourselves and each other. ๐
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