H. E. Stuckenhoff Department of Nursing

                                 Construct --> to create, build, or assemble

Adult learners bring unique experiences to their learning environment. All learning opportunities contribute to the foundational components of knowledge and nursing is no different. Some learners enter a formal education program with very little, if any exposure to patient care. Constructivism allows me to support learners from different background and cultures by embracing the learner’s knowledge base and expanding it to meet the required objectives. I love educating adult learnings, and specifically nursing students because they have an invested interest in the ‘why’ of what is being taught.

Constructivism supports asking the necessary questions. It is an active teaching and learning style that appeals to the adult learner by using prior knowledge and experience to authenticate their journey and build their foundation. I provide tools for learners to formulate their own learning style in a way that makes sense to them and can be applied to the real world of healthcare.

More so, constructivism enables learners to envision their personal and professional goals and perform to their greatest potential. Some of my favorite constructivist teaching methods include inquiry-based learning, relating current knowledge with new knowledge. These methods include simulations, case studies, flipped class-room settings, and other interactive teaching solutions.

If there was a teaching philosophy called ‘successfulism’, I would be a successfulist. I am passionate about the success of others - nurses, physicians, ancillary departments and students of all aforementioned disciplines. Successful teams contribute to the success of healthcare system and its consumers. We are all lifelong learners. I learn as much from teaching others as I hope they learn from me and want to be available to encourage them through their failures and their achievements. Constructivism allows me to cultivate an environment of learning in a variety of ways to facilitate adult learning concepts among diverse learner populations.