Efforts by Junior Faculty Members at Nursing Schools to Improve Lecture Plans

Abstract

〔Aims〕The present study aimed to clarify efforts made by junior faculty members at nursing schools to improve their lecture plans and to obtain knowledge that can be utilized by junior faculty members to enhance lecture plans together with suggestions for overcoming issues with class management.

〔Methods〕Semi-structured interviews were conducted on five full-time faculty members at a three year nursing school with teaching experience of 1 to <5 years. Participants had taught the same nursing lecture at least twice and had experience improving their lecture plans. Qualitative descriptive analysis was performed on interview data.

〔Results〕Efforts made by junior faculty members to improve their lecture plans included“repeatedly refining lecture content based on relevance and objectives”“ providing additional explanations and educational materials to increase relevance to successive practical classes and clinical practice”; and “incorporating educational materials and learning methods that make lecture content more memorable”.

〔Conclusions〕The present findings suggest that it is important for junior faculty members to explore the deeper significance of educational materials. They should consider applying teaching and learning methods that increase students’ interest in nursing and practical nursing ability. These methods should also enhance their own ability to take a problem-solving approach to refining the lecture content based on students’ reactions to the lecture and the lecture’s relevance to other classes.