Authors

  1. Matthews, Laurel DNP, RN

Article Content

Asynchronous online lectures added challenges to student engagement. To teach fundamental nursing concepts, a virtual museum was constructed. The museum is an interactive choose-your-own-adventure Google Slides presentation designed to appear like a physical museum. Students obtain a restricted link to the museum in their learning management system. A video of the instructor greets students and explains how to navigate the museum. Students then access the museum, enter the elevator, and select a floor corresponding to the lecture topic. On the main floors, students select from a choice of alcoves and then choose a subject to explore. Each subject is individually narrated to resemble a guided audio tour. To visually demonstrate or enhance understanding of the content, subjects may include hyperlinked images or YouTube videos called "artifacts". An "artifact" may also be hyperlinked to a printable instructor-designed handout. Students can return to the main floor to explore a new alcove, return to the elevator to select a different lecture topic, or leave the museum entirely at any point using hyperlinked signage throughout. In an anonymous survey, students said the museum engaged them visually and kinesthetically. More than 83% said they preferred the museum over a traditional lecture and that up to half of the lectures could be replaced with this type of activity. Those who stated they preferred a traditional lecture said that the museum helped reinforce the content.