Classroom readiness and engagement: Nursing student success

Classroom readiness involves being prepared before class to maximize learning. Student engagement is the use of behavioral, cognitive, and emotional strategies to promote active participation during class.

As a nursing student, being prepared for and engaging in class leads to better understanding of course concepts and a more positive learning experience, ultimately promoting your success.

Now, as a student, you might be used to traditional passive teaching approaches where instructors deliver information to students, typically through lectures. After class, students then independently complete homework assignments, ideally designed to build upon the lecture or lesson.

However, in nursing school, you'll often encounter more active learning methods. Active learning involves engaging students with course material through activities or exercises, with the instructor acting as a facilitator rather than a lecturer. This method promotes critical thinking, development of clinical judgment, and allows nursing students to link theoretical knowledge with practical clinical applications.

One example of active learning is the use of a flipped classroom. Instead of first having class lectures, and then reviewing at home, a flipped classroom is an approach where students independently review course material prior to class, such as readings and videos. Once in class, students work on their own or in groups to engage with course material and complete assignments, with instructor assistance. For active learning strategies like this, being prepared for class is essential so you can be successful in nursing school.

Okay so, before a course begins, be sure you understand the course expectations. Start by reading the syllabus or course description to familiarize yourself with the expectations, learning outcomes, class schedule, and required readings and activities.

If you're taking multiple classes each term or semester, consider using a hard copy or electronic calendar or planner to organize the due dates for your readings, activities, and assignments.

For example, if you have a class that meets once each week, make note of the weekly readings and activities in your calendar, repeating this for all your classes. This way, you'll have an organized list of all your class requirements, making it easier to plan your week in advance.

Next, be sure to complete the required readings and activities before each class, taking breaks as needed to maintain focus. While reading, underline or highlight key points to guide your focus and attention. You can also use the discussion section in journal articles and chapter overview in books to identify important takeaways. Depending on the class topic, focus your preparation on information that relates to scheduled class activities and assignments.

For example, if you know you’ll be working on a concept map detailing stages of fetal development during class, prepare by reviewing key points for each gestational trimester, including organ development, prenatal care, and associated nursing interventions.

Finally, make a list of any concepts you didn’t quite grasp during preparation and collect questions you have for the instructor, so you can clarify them during class. For example, if after review, you're still unsure about the differences between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, create a reminder to ask about the topic during class.

Alright, now that you've prepared for class, you're ready to participate as an active learner using behavioral strategies, cognitive strategies, and emotional strategies to stay engaged.