Open educational resource case studies: responding to nursing student educational needs in the moment

Background

The purpose of this paper is to share the pedagogical innovation of using open educational resource (OER) inclusive case studies in the classroom to respond to immediate student learning needs and augment the theory-to-practice gap that exists in undergraduate education.

Innovation

Students were introduced to case studies as an OER as a weekly activity. The initial case studies were rooted in educators’ real-life experiences and nursing practice. As courses evolved, if there was an emerging trend in healthcare or a component of a concept, model, or theory that students were challenged with, subsequent case studies were edited to suit learning needs.

Implications

When used intentionally, case studies can be responsive to student needs in the moment as OERs can facilitate a smoother transition of theory into practice.

Conclusion

This collaborative initiative can inspire other educators and institutions to bridge the theory-to-practice gap, improving the quality of care for patients, using a similar approach.