“...even if students pass the exam, they won’t get jobs if their skill level is low.”
retaining their A&P knowledge. “The A&P book and workbook gives our students extra practice so they can retain that knowledge throughout the program. The book is very visual with wonderful photography and artwork and it’s not a heavy read.” Retention has improved. The students are performing better on tests, and scores on the A&P section of the certification exam have increased. To help prepare students for certification, the school is using F.A. Davis’s Surgical Technology Review text and the online resources that come with it. “I really love the online component of this product. We use it throughout the curriculum, starting with the first semester, and assign small amounts to expose students to test questions early in the program.” April appreciates that they can tailor the questions to the course they are taking, such as microbiology, and notes that there are excellent rationales for all of the questions. The result: An increase in enrollment, higher student satisfaction, and a 100% employment rate April believes the curriculum changes and introduction of the online component have led to an increase in enrollment and student satisfaction and helped her students develop the skills they need to be job ready. “The hybrid program gives students more flexibility to do some of their coursework at home and they like that. I think that’s one reason why the enrollment doubled.” She believes the online focus has also improved students’ critical-thinking skills. “They don’t have an instructor right in front of them, so they have to use critical thinking to solve problems on their own. I can set up the program so they can keep practicing the same questions over and over again until they get them right. When they go into the operating room, their recall has improved because of all of the practice.” She believes this approach has been integral to improving skills and driving the 100% employment rate. April also notes that the reduced number of clinical hours “changed the attitude of the students and made them less stressed.” They can now also join the hospital as interns, which has made it easier to move into other roles. “Reducing the heavy clinical schedule frees up time for students to learn and retain job skills and has given them opportunities to work in the hospital.” The F.A. Davis experience: April has positive comments about F.A. Davis’s service and products. “My sales rep has always been wonderful; she is very responsive and makes sure I get the materials I need quickly.” Regarding product quality, April notes that the products are really good. “I don’t have nearly as many issues with incorrect information in the books as compared to products I’ve used from other publishers.” April also says the digital materials are easy to use and access. “The platforms are extremely intuitive and it’s really easy for the students to register and navigate.”
3
Powered by FlippingBook