Session 1 | 12:30pm | Room 2
Presenter: Mandi Cafasso, Assistant Professor
Co-Presenter: Keeley Harding, Adjunct Instructor
Title: Use of
a Community Site in Canvas to Foster Faculty-Student Engagement and Success of
the Distance Learning Doctoral Student
Description: Malcolm Knowles Adult Learning Theory
(1968) postulates that adults are self-directed, experiential, self-motivated
learners who desire flexibility in learning that can be adapted to their life
and priorities. The online Doctor of Nursing Practice program has seen a
substantial growth (75%) in student enrollment in the past year, which implored
for a method of rapid communication of program changes, student and faculty
mentor expectations and project planning. Faculty identified themes regarding
student and faculty needs that could be addressed with an online resource. The
“DNP Community” site was created in Canvas and is accessible to the student and
faculty mentors for the duration of the doctoral program. The course is updated
in real time allowing for timely notifications of and easy transitions to
changes as the program grows and evolves. The creation of this site will foster
the academic success of the student in addition to serving as a resource guide
for faculty mentors.
Abstract: Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students
have varying levels of nursing and academic experience. Some students are
enrolled in the bachelor’s to doctoral program, while others are in the post
master’s DNP program. Some students attend part time and others are full time.
Additionally, students are implementing quality improvement or evidence-based
projects along with faculty who may not be intimately involved with the DNP
program and expectations. This can make it difficult for faculty to meet the
needs of all those who are affected by a course. In order to meet the needs of
each student, a “DNP Community” site was created using Canvas, an online
learning platform. The site was created to serve as a resource and guide for
all DNP students and faculty to ensure equal access to program related forms,
writing templates, presentation resources, reference materials, and nursing
subspecialty information. Students have access to this online site throughout
the duration of the DNP program, and all students and faculty at every stage of
the program will benefit. This course is updated in real time allowing for
timely notifications of and easy transitions to programmatic changes.
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