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Learning Theory for Nursing: An Introduction

Understand how learning theory applies to nurse education with this course for nurses and healthcare professionals.

1,775 enrolled on this course

  • Duration

    2 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours
This course is part of the program Teaching, Learning & Assessment in Nursing, which is one of the building blocks that leads to a degree in MSc Nursing. Find out more.

Explore basic learning theory to help with nursing education

Understanding how we learn is vital for designing experiences that support the diverse learning needs of nursing students.

Through this course, you’ll explore the learning theory that underpins teaching and learning strategies for nurses. You will be taught how learning theories affect teaching decisions along with experience, learning aims and curriculum expectations.

To help you increase learning opportunities for your students, this course will also address various ways to enhance attention, motivation and memory, and analyse factors which help or hinder learning.

What topics will you cover?

  • Principles of learning theory
  • The application of learning theory to nurse education
  • Factors that facilitate or hinder learning
  • Individual learning needs
  • Teaching and learning strategies

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Demonstrate knowledge of a range of principles of learning theory
  • Appraise the application of learning theory to nurse education
  • Analyse factors which support or hinder learning
  • Discuss factors relevant when planning adult learning

Who is the course for?

This course is for nurses and healthcare professionals who are new to nursing education and student-nurse development. It will also be useful for experienced nurses wanting to refresh their knowledge, or share their experiences with a nursing community.

Please note that the individuals detailed in the ‘Who will you learn with?’ section below, are current staff members and may be subject to change.

Who will you learn with?

A senior nurse specialising in the care of patients with renal and urological disorders. 20 years experience in education, including in South Africa. MSc Nursing Course Director online and on campus.

Who developed the course?

Coventry University

Coventry secured 5 QS Stars for Teaching and Online Learning in the QS World University Ranking 2020 and has received No. 1 in the world for Massive Open Online Courses in MoocLab’s World University Ranking 2021.

  • Established

    1992
  • Location

    Coventry

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

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Advance your career with a degree

Since 2017 you have been able to take a degree on FutureLearn. This free course is a bit like a starter course for a degree — it should give you a flavour of the degree subject but can also be your first step towards a degree qualification.

If you enjoy this course you can apply to join the program it’s part of to start working towards a degree on FutureLearn.

Don’t worry, you can still take the course without doing a full degree!

Do the free course
Join and complete the program
Get academic credit for an online degree from Coventry University
This course is part of the program Teaching, Learning & Assessment in Nursing, which is one of the building blocks that leads to a degree in MSc Nursing.

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