Energize your Classroom: Three Simple Active Learning Techniques for Nursing Instructors

One of my favorite books about learning is Minding Bodies: How Physical Space, Sensation, and Movement Affect Learning by Susan Hrach. Her work emphasizes that we are not "a brain on a stick" and that our physical bodies are the location for all our cognitive processes. 

Here from the conference?

A comic depicting the idea that as learners were are more complex than a brain on a stick.

This article will highlight three ways to incorporate embodied education into your classroom or clinical.

What is embodied education?

Embodied education, drawing inspiration from the insights presented in Dr. Hrach's book, is a pedagogical approach that centers on the idea that learning is not just a mental process but a holistic experience that involves the entire body. This educational philosophy recognizes the interconnectedness of the mind and body, emphasizing that cognition and physicality are intertwined. In the context of nursing education, it encourages nursing students to not only acquire theoretical knowledge about the body but also develop a deep awareness of their own bodies. 

One of the most embodied educational experiences within nursing education is a simulation. A simulation offers a clinical environment where students can physically engage with patient care, have hands-on practice, and immerse in a real-world clinical scenario. This type of learning involves a tight connection between mind and body. However, a complete simulation experience is time-consuming to prepare, can involve multiple educators, and requires special equipment. Below are three simple ways to incorporate embodied education into your teaching without a full simulation experience.

Create a Change in Scenery 🌳

Would it be possible, even briefly, to get your students out of your classroom? Consider sending pairs of students for a hallway lap while they discuss a question or concept. Use a debate with the four corners of the room - complete instructions for this activity are available HERE. Arrange a walking field trip to an anatomy lab, pharmacy research lab, physical therapy gym, or other campus area they would not typically visit. Some schools are experimenting with innovative classroom spaces created explicitly for active learning. Is it possible to reserve this room for one class period, even if it is not in your department? Even minor disruptions to the physical setup of your classroom (think standing in a different location or walking around the room) can be beneficial in increasing engagement.

Build a Tactile Toolbox 🧰

I learned about using tactile toolboxes at a seminar about student engagement. The general idea is to have a box of tactile materials, such as modeling clary, squishy animals, fidget toys, markers, or legos, that is easily accessible to students during a class period. 

An example tactile toolbox with small items that have different tactile qualities.

At first, I was skeptical. I thought it would be a distraction, students would not take notes, or no one would even use it. But instead, I saw quiet fidgeting while actively listening, much like doodling. I also saw student connections as they would talk about the box and share materials.

This technique is a simple, low-risk way to tap into embodied learning. Adding a simple tactile toolbox to your classroom setup can keep students engaged, especially during a listening section of class.

Try Skit Development 🎭

It can be challenging to lecture on topics like therapeutic communication, leadership, or teamwork. Creating a short skit is an excellent way to tackle a topic that has to do with human interaction. Think about the American Heart Association's approach to teamwork when teaching BLS - they use video, actors, and role play because it is a great way to demonstrate human interaction that is difficult to convey through text.

When asking students to develop short skits, a few important notes:

• Emphasize that it is not a graded activity. Any connection to student grades can hinder their creativity.

• Give groups contrasting scenarios. For example, if you teach pain assessment, ask one group to demonstrate gathering assessment data on an infant or child and another to collect information from an elderly adult who does not understand the pain scale.

• Encourage a playful attitude with this activity. Now, play and nursing education do not always go together. But for this type of learning activity, I think we can encourage a playful attitude, which also includes creativity, curiosity, and experimentation. Like anything in life, it is about balance, and this type of activity can counterbalance the more serious, heavy content we cover.

Finally, remember that not every day has to be an embodied educational experience. Just aim for a mixture of lectures and activities. Start small by adding one change and build or modify each semester.

In conclusion, embodied learning is a powerful teaching tool that can enrich your classroom by connecting the mind and body. By exploring and experimenting with the techniques in this blog post—such as a change in scenery, tactile toolboxes, or skit development, you can begin to build engagement. Moving our bodies while we learn enhances our understanding and retention of knowledge. Remember, as we learn, we are not just brains on a stick.

Looking for ready-to-go active learning tools?

Check out the active learning case studies as a card deck. New decks coming soon!