Evaluating a conceptual model-based assignment.

Although all faculty evaluate student assignments, fewer tackle the difficult issue of evaluating its actual usefulness. Wanting to know how their undergraduate community health nursing students were understanding and using a conceptual model in clinical practice, the authors used student journal assignments to evaluate learning and application of the model. They discuss the project's outcomes and subsequent strategies implemented to enhance their own understanding of the model and facilitate improved student learning.

The Population-Focused Analysis Project for teaching community health.

New instructional methodologies that foster student inquiry, critical thinking, accountability, group work, and self-mastery skills must be created to meet the challenges of modern community health nursing. Bold steps need to be taken to examine current nursing curricula and institute innovative teaching-learning methods to achieve these outcomes. Designing a unique way of providing clinical practice in community assessment is one step toward achieving these goals.