Engagement of nursing students is explained as the willingness and choice of the students to participate actively in the learning processes occurring in clinical settings such that it also leads to the generation of tangible behaviors inside or outside the class or in the clinical environment.
Engagement of students is also explained as the degree of interest, optimism, attention, passion, and curiosity within the student in order to learn what is being taught such that level of motivation of student for learning is suitable for progressing in the respective field and educational grounds. True engagement is one where the student is involved in three aspects: cognitive, emotional and behavioral while these three aspects lead to various other parts such as active participation in class, concentration on teamwork, cooperation, and creative thinking.
Behavioural aspect of engagement occurs when the student places continuous effort to learn and participate in academic work and contributes to class discussions through questions and answers. Cognitive aspect of engagement occurs when the student is able to use effective strategies that focus on process of thinking, memory and observation to learn through problem-solving. Emotional aspect of engagement occurs when the students are able to effectively react in the class by showing different emotions such as anxiety, job, interest or boredom
Nursing students are trained and supported in a dual role in the delivery of health care, one within the classroom and one within the clinical environment. Nursing students are expected to be capable of performing effective, competent and complex activities as health care professionals. Students are not engaged in the learning. It is because active learning strategies are not being used in the classrooms. To entice engagement and higher levels of learning, nurse educators are exploring newer methods of teaching. These methods include group work and group projects, integration of core content, adding additional content each semester, and active exercises and techniques to maintain interest.
Active participation in both learning environments helps students become more effective, modern and informed as they become professional nurses. Students’ engagement, based on classroom research, is a dynamic process, unfolding of which reveals that it is best practiced through repeated measures such as context changes and classroom activities. Engagement of students in course learning is developed based on a number of perceptions and practices within classroom even when the behavioral choices are limited. These practices include strategies of learning such as active listening, notes taking or even seats locations.
