Week 1 Reflection

Nursing Education in the 21st Century Age of Technology

            As an emerging nurse educator in the 21st century, it is my duty to be up-to-date with not only the latest evidence-based-practice, but also with the current technology trends and informatics advancement.  Just a week ago, I had thought of myself as pretty tech-savvy due to being immersed with technology while growing up.  I thought I had a pretty good grasp on how to incorporate technology within a classroom.  Now, between what I learned in the previous course about various learning strategies and in this course about so many technological options I didn't know existed, I feel way out of my conform zone!
    The one thing I learned so far that really blew my mind is about Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality/Mixed Reality and its use in healthcare.  We have only just begun to see the tip of the iceberg when it comes to VR/AR/MR.  As the quote above suggests, this advanced technology feels like magic.  I have a strong feeling that this technology is where medicine, and subsequently nursing, is headed.  This method of instruction is entirely learner-centered and a great hands-on way to have students actively engage with learning.  Can you just imagine being able to see the inside parts of the human body as a 3D MR experience?  Being able to take vital signs and perform a head-to-toe assessment on a patient in the MR platform would be an incredible experience that I hope becomes a reality in my future.
    As an educator and a nurse, it might be quite a few more years before that kind of tech comes to my doorstep, but I am fascinated by it and would love to keep track if its advancement.  Did you know there is a website specifically for educators in VR?  Below is the link to that website, an article about VR in nursing education, and two YouTube videos that demonstrate current VR use.  I am so excited to watch and learn more about this technology and other tech that I can use in my classroom to develop me into an effective 21st century educator.

Educators in VR Website

VR in Nursing Education Article