“Using Davis Advantage in Pathophysiology and Davis Dosage Calc 360° in Pharmacology has prepared our students to be more successful when they get to their med-surg course.” Hillary DeWitt, MS, RN
Faculty and Clinical Coordinator Laurel College of Technology. Morgantown, West Virginia
Laurel College of Technology is a concept-based associate degree nursing program in Morgantown, West Virginia. Hillary DeWitt has been at Laurel for 3 years and is currently teaching Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, and Med-Surg. The 20-month program has just over 100 students and admits 3 times per year. Davis Advantage for Pathophysiology Preparing students for Med-Surg Students at Laurel College take Pathophysiology in their second semester. They are required to purchase a hard copy of Davis Advantage for Pathophysiology: Introductory Concepts and Clinical Perspectives by Theresa Capriotti which also includes an access code for the Davis Advantage online assignments. “Pathophysiology is a hard course,” says Hillary. “So, we really appreciate the Davis Advantage online activities. We use them for homework assignments to help students learn and understand the content.” Hillary likes the level and the writing style of the book. “Sometimes I have to go into the book and review content myself. I’ve noticed that it is very easy to read. Pathophysiology can be really hard, and content can get too deep. This author knows how to explain things in language that anyone can understand.” Prior to class, students are assigned the Personalized Learning activities, including the pre-assessments, lessons, and the post-assessments. “I’ve taken a lot of the pre- and post-assessments myself so I can experience what the students are experiencing. I think they are good and challenging. They hit on the most important areas for students and make them think.” The Davis Advantage assignments count toward students’ homework grades, and they must get an 80% or better on the post-assessment. If they get less than 80%, Hillary will reset it so students can take it again. In the classroom, students will often be given another assessment. “We want to make sure they read the material.” She also employs flipped classroom strategies that require student participation. “The Davis Advantage Personalized Teaching activities are really helpful in preparing them for active learning.” The result Hillary emphasizes that it’s important to be successful in pathophysiology before going on to med-surg. “People who do well in pathophysiology, usually do well in med-surg. This course is an important foundation to prepare students for success in the rest of the program.” She explains that the Davis Advantage Quizzing assignments are key to preparing the students. “The quizzes include some challenging critical-thinking questions that are important for students to master before going further in the program. I see students who struggle with the thought process in pathophysiology; if that is happening, they will struggle even more when they get to med-surg.” The student experience The students enjoy using Davis Advantage. “They have told me that they really like the videos and find them very helpful. They also find the program easy to navigate, as compared to some of the platforms we use where the students struggle to find assignments.”
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