Collaborative learning: Key considerations for nurse educators

Abstract

In the ever-changing healthcare arena, nurse educators have a responsibility to develop independent lifelong learners. In the healthcare setting, students must progress to become healthcare professionals that are able to work productively, independently, innovatively and effectively in teams to promote patients’ outcomes. This implies that nurse educators have a responsibility to develop nursing students’ skills and knowledge and equip them with strategies to collaborate effectively to reach their academic outcomes. Students must be able to function as independent knowledgeable members of the healthcare team. One of the strategies that can be utilised to develop the above- mentioned knowledge and skills of students is collaborative learning. This paper aims at sharing key considerations with nurse educators when utilising collaborative learning.

Keywords: Collaborative learning, facilitation of learning, higher education, learning task design, lifelong learner.