Donna L Petri
Thompson Rivers University, Canada
Title: Illustrated journaling: Making meaning of an international practicum
Biography
Biography: Donna L Petri
Abstract
One of the biggest challenges for a faculty member leading an international practicum is the facilitation of student learning with respect to making meaning of experiences. Reflective journaling has been used in nursing education to assist students to link theory and practice, but typically the journaling has been in the narrative format. The international practicum experience challenges students on many levels and students need an opportunity to explore those challenges and make meaning of the experience. Illustrated journaling provides students with an opportunity to engage in a different style of learning through the use of drawing, words, color, and narrative. This presentation will provide a brief overview of illustrated journaling, examples of how illustrated journaling has been used in international practicums, how illustrated journaling can be incorporated into seminar discussions, and how it has assisted students to make meaning of the international practicum experience. Through illustrated journaling students in the international practicums have stated they were much more engaged in their learning that it provided them with a new way of expressing their learning and knowledge, and it provided a more satisfying reflective journaling experience.