Hello! Welcome to the web-based Health Care Research course at the
University of Kansas School of Nursing!
This document will give you an overview of the course content and the methodologies for
NRSG 754. Please read through this material carefully and be sure to complete the
activities within it. You then will be ready to embark on your journey through Health
Care Research.
If you have not reviewed the Road Map to Web-Based Courses, please do that now. Pay particular attention to the Driving Time Required.
Your first activity should be to read through the help menu.
The help menu will get you tips on using your computer keyboard, navigating
the World Wide Web (WWW), helper applications, and sending documents by e-mail.
Be sure to "bookmark" the URL (address) for the course HomePage on
your computer so that if you get lost on the Web, you can find your way back
to the course.
Also, note that many words in the course documents are underlined or highlighted
in some way (such as the help menu
in the paragraph above). The underlining makes the words "hot"
so that they link to other activities or documents on the WWW. Move your mouse
cursor over them and the cursor changes to look like a hand. Then "click"
or press on the left mouse button to "link" to the activity or document.
Course Basics
Next, read the following course documents. These will orient you to the course objectives and course requirements.
There is also a list of course resources
that are available for you use throughout the course, such
as how to order the text, library links, and other important Web sites.
Course Teaching Methodology
In order to learn research, I have set up a variety of activities to assist you in the use of research information.
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And, of course, textbook readings and on-line journal articles (not necessarily
those shown here) will assist your learning about research. You also can conduct
on-line library searches.
Course Units
The Health Care Research course is divided into seven units. The first six units are organized according to the research process and are listed on the Course Calendar page, along with learning activities, reading assignments, and due dates. The seventh and last unit is an evaluation unit. You will complete a course evaluation, faculty evaluation, and a self evaluation.
The material in each unit will be covered in about a two - three week time frame. The units have reading assignments and learning activities (terminology, study questions, quizzes, research article analyses, on-line threaded discussions, and interactive assignments that are linked throughout the WWW).
Any Learning Activity you are to do is underlined and often highlighted. Click your mouse on the underlined activity and you will be linked to it. Typically there are directions for each assignment. For assignments on the WWW you need to learn to use navigation buttons as shown in the HELP! Menu.
Reading assignments from the textbooks are not underlined and are self-explanatory. Other reading assignments are underlined and again, you can link to them by clicking your mouse button. Assigned readings should be completed prior to participating in discussion, taking quizzes, or attempting the research analysis.
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You will participate in small group
on-line class threaded discussions facilitated |
You also have access to individual e-mail of your instructor and classmates. Individual e-mail to the instructor (csmith@kumc.edu) should focus only on the individual student's assignment, grades, or individual course concerns. All other questions (e.g. logistics of an assignment that are pertinent to more than one student, unit terminology, unit study questions, and interactive exercises) should be managed through the group discussion so all students can learn from your questions.
The threaded discussion page has been designed for you to discuss course questions and issues with other students. You will respond to "conference" questions designated by the instructor (manager) each week. These questions are put on the group discussion regularly as shown below.
For example, Conference 1 in this course will be student introductions. You will prepare a biosketch of yourself according to the instructions posted by your professor. Through the biosketches you will get to know all the students in the class, what their interests are, and how to contact them.
Starting with Conference 2, your professor (manager) will post course content questions for students (users) to discuss. You will be assigned to discussion groups of about 4-6 students. Each week one of you will be assigned to facilitate the discussion and send an e-mail summary to the professor. Each student will be entering responses to the discussion questions, and also responses to other students' thoughts, opinions, suggestions, and ideas. This interaction will be much like a bulletin board, meaning the student will "post" or type in their responses to each question and also read others' responses.
Each student can respond at a time convenient for them. Not everyone is on the discussion at the same time; therefore, this is called asynchronous format. Students are expected to participate in the threaded discussion group at least once per week in a substantive way.
You may have heard that students have been surprised at how well they get to know one another in computer discussions. Students enjoy the purposeful and scholarly discussion that occurs because they have time to think about the question and read about the topic before responding. There is a Contract for Online Threaded Discussion that describes the requirements for student discussion. Read this contract thoroughly.
The asynchronous group discussion contributes an important part of your grade. Credit is earned by adding to the discussion and responding to questions of the instructor and other students. The instructor will review the discussion comments and rate them either as opinion, questions, chit-chat (which is acceptable and important in group discussions, but not sufficient to earn credit) or as contributing to the subject matter in a thoughtful way. The length or amount of discussion that each student contributes is not the criterion, it is the depth of knowledge conveyed.
The threaded discussion software we use is called WebBoard and there are two tutorials available on it. You can review these now or when you get ready to participate in your first conference. These tutorials are also listed on the Course Resource page.
- Logging into WebBoard - how to log in as a new user or existing user
- Using WebBoard - Orientation and how to use
Note: When you are in Webboard, the command Loggoff on the black toolbar actually logs you out of the discussion group and places you at the courses' homepage.
Unit 4 has a research article analysis. The study to be critiqued is contained in the on-line articles or you may want to obtain a copy from the library. Fill in the appropriate box of the critique (research analysis) by typing in your answer and click the "submit" button. To start typing you must first put the mouse pointer inside the box and click on the mouse. The response will be sent automatically to your instructor. The critique is part of your grade. Remember to print yourself a copy too - before submitting. Two sample papers are provide for your review and the links to them are at the bottom of the analysis guidelines and on the course calendar.
Once you have completed the respective unit readings, activities, and e-mail discussion, take the unit quiz. Each respective unit quiz will be posted for you to complete on the last two days of the unit. For example, the Unit 1 quiz will be posted for you to take on September 6 at 8:00 am until 8:00 am on September 7. The exam will be one hour long and it will be timed. Once you have submitted the exam, you will receive your score. You must take the quiz during these two days, or you will not receive credit. The quizzes are open book, but should be completed by yourself.
The Research Utilization Paper is an activity designed to synthesize course material. The paper gives your research utilization group an opportunity to design a systematic plan for applying research findings to practice -- in an area of the groups' choosing. The paper is to be typed, double spaced, and of a professional writing style. Your group paper can be submitted by e-mail or snail mail. The paper is an important component of your grade. Two sample papers are available for your review and the links for them are at the bottom of the paper guidelines and on the course calendar.
Self-Evaluation of Terminal Objectives
In the last unit of the course you will review what you have learned by completing a self-evaluation related to the terminal (or final) objectives of the Master's degree. These Terminal Objectives of the Master's program are listed in abbreviated form after each number. This course has given you opportunities to work toward meeting these objectives. This assignment is for you to list specific examples of new knowledge, skills, and learning you generated during this course under each objective. Write in your response in the provided scroll box and submit.
Summary
By completing the readings; discussing study questions, research terminology, and other assignments; completing the research analysis, research utilization project, and quizzes, you will succeed in learning the research process-- and more importantly--in applying research findings to your own practice. The advanced practice nurse or nurse administrator wants his/her everyday interaction with patients and interventions recommended to be evidence-based. Interdisciplinary research that has illustrated improvement of outcomes with patients, families, communities, or populations of persons is an excellent resource to practicing nurses.
One Final Thought
Remember, the World Wide Web, e-mail, and electronic discussion are not private, nor secure. Do not use to communicate private or sensitive information.
Also, realize that some of the Web sites that you will find or link to may be outdated or contain erroneous information. Further, the Web is not censored.
Last, watch out for subscription addresses. This means you will receive a bill (not KU).