Summary C920 Contemporary Curriculum Design and Development in Nursing Education.docx Contemporary Curriculum Design and Development in Nursing Education College of Health Professions, Western Governors University

This module will educate students on the concept of epidemiology as a foundation of community health nursing and the role of the public health nurse. Students will gain knowledge to evaluate the quality and comparability of data to determine prioritization, assess health trends to identify risk factors, and recommend programs to meet the learning needs within the community. Students will be challenged to figure out the source of an outbreak using an unfolding case study. In this scenario-based learning activity students will work in small groups to develop critical thinking, effective communication, interpersonal relationships, and collaboration skills. Using an interactive learning activity on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, students are challenged to practice analyzing epidemiological data and determining the source of community outbreaks. Learning Theory A learning theory provides a framework for educators to promote more engaged student learning (Bastable, 2019). Constructivism theory is a learner-centered approach in which learners construct new knowledge by building on the foundation of previous learning. This perspective is student-centered and believes knowledge is not only absorbed but created by the learner with the educator as a guide (Billings & Halstead, 2016). In a constructivist online learning environment, educators create a meaningful learning environment using open communication and collaboration. Participating in groups and other learning interactions with online peers, students have the opportunity to develop deeper understanding of course concepts related to the exposure to different perspectives and ideas. In the module titled “Improving the Health of Vulnerable Populations”, the learning outcome stating the student will discuss how community programs improve the health of 5 vulnerable population groups reflects the constructivism theory