Educational Interventions to Facilitate Student Learning in Basic Nursing Practice -Introducing Portfolio Style Self-reports-

Abstract

Effective learning of basic nursing techniques is important for nursing student to obtain good clinical skills. We introduced portfolio assessment to new nursing students to facilitate their self-assessment, agenda and goal setting, and action planning. This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of the learning using the portfolio and to evaluate its effectiveness on student development.

We collected recorded portfolios and anonymous self-administered questionnaires concerning the portfolio learning from 84 second-year nursing students in a university. Portfolio entries were qualitatively analyzed and categorized into different types of action planning. Portfolio entries were observed at three points：pre-course, and at the midpoints of course one and two.

Students’goals increased in depth as the semester progressed. Prior to the middle of semester 1, 45% were classified as“simple/superficial goals”and 52% as“setting detailed learning goals”．Later, these became 21% and 76% respectively, showing the same tendency after the midpoint of semester 2. The majority of students（69%）deepened their learning over time. Student evaluation of the portfolio assessment was 3.5 and over on a five-point scale on most of the question items, indicating student satisfaction.

The portfolio effectively facilitated self-reflection and encouraged a positive approach to learning.