Metaphor for Life
As an introduction to each other, I sometimes begin my course by showing seemingly random pictures (such as my cats) and asking students to discuss how they are similar to the picture. I use this activity to emphasis careful examination of evidence (the picture), reflection (on self), and critical thinking (putting the two together). Using evidence and reflection are paramount to developing critical thinking in nurses.
For an assignment later in the semester, the students select their own image that is a metaphor for pediatric nursing. |
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Assignment
Select a short (<60 seconds) video or photograph from the internet that illustrates a metaphor for life. The metaphor must apply to pediatrics (working with children or families). In 1-2 pages, explain your metaphor and how it impacts pediatric nursing care. Include a hyperlink to the original video/photo.
Exemplar
Linsday Irrgang began the semester stating she didn't like kids. During clinical, she had a very moving experience with an infant. This metaphor assignment gave her the opportunity to reflect on her experience and use critical thinking to connect her experience to greater meaning. Her essay is below.
Select a short (<60 seconds) video or photograph from the internet that illustrates a metaphor for life. The metaphor must apply to pediatrics (working with children or families). In 1-2 pages, explain your metaphor and how it impacts pediatric nursing care. Include a hyperlink to the original video/photo.
Exemplar
Linsday Irrgang began the semester stating she didn't like kids. During clinical, she had a very moving experience with an infant. This metaphor assignment gave her the opportunity to reflect on her experience and use critical thinking to connect her experience to greater meaning. Her essay is below.
Exemplar
Steven Tooze really thought outside the box and connected his personal experience to a quote from a movie. His exemplar really epitomizes the open-endedness of the assignment. My intention with the assignment was that students would construct their own meaning from their experiences and connect it to any metaphor, that is hopefully deeply personal to them, as Steven demonstrates below.
Steven Tooze really thought outside the box and connected his personal experience to a quote from a movie. His exemplar really epitomizes the open-endedness of the assignment. My intention with the assignment was that students would construct their own meaning from their experiences and connect it to any metaphor, that is hopefully deeply personal to them, as Steven demonstrates below.