Understanding Concepts and the Conceptual Approach

1. Understanding Concepts and the Conceptual Approach Jean Foret Giddens, PhD APRN-BC, Associate Professor College of Nursing , University of New Mexico jgiddens@salud.unm.edu Infusing Conceptual Learning Into the Classroom North Carolina Associate Degree Nursing Council Fall Conference October 23, 2007

2. Overview • Foundations in Concepts • Conceptual Approach in Nursing • Conceptual Teaching and Learning • Concept Based Curriculum

3. What is a Concept?

4. What is a Concept? • A concept is an organizing principle or a unifying classification of information. • Concepts are “mental constructions representing categories of information that contain defining attributes” (Walker & Advant, 1988) • Humans begin conceptual thinking at an early age.

5. Defining Attributes • These are the “rules” or “parameters” used to identify, define and recognize a concept. • These are important because these rules help all individuals or groups of individuals universally recognize the concept.

6. What concepts do the shapes below represent? What other concepts can you identify? Example:Concepts as Categories

7. Example:Concepts as Categories

8. Concepts for Nursing Education • Clarity • Useful • What are the Concepts for Nursing Practice? • Concepts vs. Exemplars • Concepts vs. Medical Diagnoses

9. Concept Definition and Exemplars • Concept: Intracranial Regulation • Definition: • Mechanisms that impact intracranial processing and function • Exemplars: • Traumatic brain injury • Seizures • Stroke

10. Concept Development & Presentation • Develop concepts according to template for consistency • Types of/Categories • Populations at risk/personal risk factors • Assessment • Nursing Care • Primary Prevention • Secondary Prevention • Collaborative Care • Interrelated Concepts

11. Conceptual Learning

12. What is Conceptual Learning? • Process by which students learn how to organize information in logical mental structures. • Focuses on organizing principles – the “cubby holes” in which the mind organizes facts into ideas. • The difference between concept and content focused learning is… “the difference between facts of the Alaska oil spill and an understanding of the importance of environmental sustainability” (Erickson, 1998 p. 50).

13. Promoting Conceptual Learning Means…… • Focusing on big ideas – students anchor to specifics. • Fostering deep learning, and deep understanding through connections and reflection (as opposed to surface learning). • Developing student-centered learning with a purpose.

14. Teaching Conceptually Focus is on Concept Exemplars provide content knowledge Application of content to interrelated concepts Application of other content to the concept

15. Concept: Oxygenation and possible exemplars Pulmonary Edema Pnuemothorax Anemia PE RDS AMI Pneumonia COPD Asthma RSV Oxygenation

16. Example #1: Respiratory FailureCase Study Child – RF with Asthma Adult – RF with COPD Risk Factors Clinical Onset Presenting Clinical Manifestations Collaborative Management Outcome Interrelated Concepts Risk Factors Clinical Onset Presenting Clinical Manifestations Collaborative Management Outcome Interrelated Concepts

17. Hypertension ASHD Renal Failure Diabetic Retinopathy Peripheral Neuropathy Peripheral Artery Disease Example #2Long-term complications of DM Students struggle to grasp the long-term complications associated with DM. Tendency is to focus on each complication as separate entity What underlying concept or concepts could explain this?

18. Example #3 Skill Acquisition: Securing an IV Catheter What concept(s) apply? After starting an IV, what steps are necessary to properly secure the IV?

19. Example #4Cause and Effect Model Motion Sensory Perceptual Oxygenation Perfusion Elimination Nutrition Skin Integrity Pain

20. Other Teaching Strategies: • Experiential Learning • Games • Jigsaw • Role Play • Virtual Experiential Learning (Neighborhood) • Simulation Learning • Rounds • Concept Analysis • Case Writing

21. Clinical Judgment Model (Tanner, 2006) • Linking to Nursing Research • Noticing • Interpreting • Responding • Reflecting

22. Final Thoughts on Conceptual Learning • A focus on concepts in itself does not guarantee conceptual learning. • Faculty must adopt activelearning strategies to enhance conceptual learning. • Ideally, concepts are woven through all courses and incorporated into clinical learning as well as didactic courses.

23. Benefits of Conceptual Learning • Content Management • Concepts addressed across disease categories and populations. • Fosters systematic observations about events or conditions that influence a problem. • Emphasis on interrelated concepts • Catalyst for challenging students to think at more advanced levels. • Meets the needs of diverse learners

24. Drawbacks • It is different, thus faculty lack understanding • Faculty resistant to changes • Requires a different level of organization • Lack of literature detailing steps • What about NCLEX?