Part 1 - Lesson Description

Lesson Title

Case Study: An Application of the Scientific Method to the Nursing Process

Abstract

The purpose of this lesson is for adult learners to improve their communication skills --- specifically reading, writing, speaking and listening --- by using the Scientific Method to solve a nursing problem. The target audience of this lesson is adults at the 12th grade reading and writing levels. This lesson is designed for a face-to-face, instructor-led classroom setting. 

Learner Audience / Primary Users

The primary audience for this lesson is adults who are studying to take the General Education Development (GED) exam, reading at a 12^th-grade level and interested in a career in the health care industry, specifically nursing.

Education Use

• Curriculum / Instruction 
  
• Professional Development

Language

• English

Material Type

• Instructional Material
• Lesson Plans
• Case Study
• Student Guide
• Homework and Assignment
• Video Lectures
• Images and Illustrations

Key Words

• Designers for Learning
• Adult Education
• Scientific Method
• Nursing Process

Time Required

• 90 Minutes

Targeted Skills

• Employability
• Career
• Life
• College
• Pre-nursing
• Medical

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, the learner will be able to:

• Recall personal problem-solving techniques.
• Discuss concepts related to the Scientific Method.
• Identify the six steps of the Scientific Method.
• Solve a medical problem using the steps of the Scientific Method.
• Complete a Patient Plan of Care form using the Nursing Process.
• Design and deliver a presentation about using the Scientific Method to solve a problem/make a decision.

CCRS Alignment

• Subject: English Language Arts / Literacy
• Grade Level: E (11^th – CCR)
• Strand: Reading Informational Text, Reading Scientific and Technical Text, Speaking and Listening

STANDARD

Reading

CCR Anchor 3: Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text. (Apply this standard to texts of appropriate complexity as outlined by Standard 10.)

Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks, attending to special cases or exceptions defined in the text. (RST.11-12.3)

CCR Anchor 7: Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words. (Apply this standard to texts of appropriate complexity as outline by Standard 10.)

Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words in order to address a question or solve a problem. (RI.11-12.7)

Speaking and Listening

CCR Anchor 4: Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

Present information, findings, and supporting evidence clearly, concisely, and logically such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and task. (SL.11-12.4)

Prior Knowledge

The adult learner must read and write at least a 12^th-grade level. Ideally, the learner has had some exposure to the Scientific Method, although it is not mandatory to complete this lesson.  

Required Resources

• Lesson Syllabus (Learner)
  
• Walk Around Survey Worksheet (Learner)
  
• Scientific Method Quiz (Learner and Instructor)
  
• Case Study Guided Practice Worksheet (Learner and Instructor) 
  
• Case Study Evaluation Worksheet (Learner and Instructor) 
  
• Lesson Survey (Learner)
  
• Pen or pencil, one per learner
• Access to the internet
• Video playing medium
  

Lesson License and Author

• Lesson Author: Christopher Simpson
• Lesson Rewrite Author: Rema Merrick
• License: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 license

Part 2 - Lesson

Instructional Strategies and Activities

WARM-UP                                                                                                                                                        TIME: 5 Minutes

Think-Pair-Share Activity: Ask learners to think about a difficult problem (or decision) they had to solve (or reach) and the techniques did they used to solve (reach) it.  Allow time for learners to individually process their thinking in response to the question. Then, pair learners into two-person teams and ask them to discuss with their collaborative partners (pairs) and then share with the group or with another pair.

INTRODUCTION                                                                                                                                           TIME: 10 Minutes

Presentation:  Distribute the lesson syllabus to students and then deliver the Introduction presentation to learners using the PDF or PowerPoint version of the presentation.     

Scientific Method Walk Around Activity: Distribute the Scientific Method Walk Around Activity worksheet to learners. Explain the instructions and invite them to start the activity by thinking about a word or phrase that they think of in relation to the Scientific Method. The word or phrase they record will capture the gist of their prior knowledge or preconceived thinking.

Have a few learners share what they learned and/or already know about the Scientific Method. Adjust the presentation section based on how much the learners already know about the Scientific Method.

PRESENTATION / MODELING / DEMONSTRATION                                                                           TIME: 15 Minutes

Explain to learners that the Scientific Method is a problem-solving approach used in all sciences—including chemistry, physics, geology, and psychology. The scientists in these fields ask different questions and perform different tests. However, they use the same core approach to find answers that are logical and supported by evidence.

Scientific Method Video (YouTube): Introduce and play the YouTube Scientific Method Song video. Encourage learners to write down the steps of the Scientific Method as they listen to the song. 

Video Embedded Code: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KIFz_-KzURY" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Scientific Method Song YouTube Video

Scientific Method Review: After learners watch the video, review the steps of the Scientific Method along with an example of each step (see information below) to reinforce the information.

Steps of the Scientific Method

1. Make an observation.
2. Ask a question.
3. Form a hypothesis, or testable explanation.
4. Make a prediction based on the hypothesis.
5. Test the prediction.
6. Use the results to come up with a conclusion; make new hypotheses or predictions, if necessary.

Example (You may use this example or develop your own.)

1. Make an observation: You pick up your iPhone to send your best friend a text and the iPhone is not working; the screen is black. 
2. Ask a question based on your observations: Why is iPhone not working? Why is the screen black?
3. Make a testable, educated guess regarding the answer to the question: The iPhone is not working because it is not charged.
4. Make a prediction regarding the outcome of the test if the hypothesis is correct: If you charge the iPhone it will work.
5. Create an experiment to test the hypothesis and prediction. Record the results: Charge the phone for one hour. After an hour of charging, you turn the iPhone on and it works. You text your best friend and she responds. 
6. Analyze the information from the experiment and make a conclusion regarding the accuracy of the hypothesis and prediction. If the hypothesis is proven wrong, repeat the process: Your hypothesis and prediction were both correct. The iPhone did not work because it was not charged. Once you charged the iPhone, you were able to successfully send a text.

Common Error: Learners often confuse the hypothesis and prediction steps of the Scientific Method. If you notice learners struggling with this, clarify with the following information.

• A hypothesis is a guess about the cause of the problem.
• A prediction is a guess about the expected observable outcome/result if the hypothesis is correct.  
  

Scientific Method Quiz: After learners watch the video, distribute the quiz to learners and have them complete it. After all learners complete the quiz, review the correct answers located on page 2 of the instructor’s version of the quiz

GUIDED PRACTICE                                                                                                                                     TIME: 30 Minutes

Introduce this section, by telling learners that in this activity they are going to use the Scientific Method to solve a medical problem.

Scientific Method Case Study Guided Practice: Distribute the Scientific Method/Nursing Process infographic and case study guided practice worksheet to learners. Ask learners to work through the case study using the infographic. Learners may complete this individually, in pairs or in groups. Once learners complete the activity, review the answers with learners. Correct answers are outlined in the instructor version of the worksheet.

This is an infographic that shows the relationship of the steps of the Scientific Method to each step of the Nursing Process.

EVALUATION                                                                                                                                                  Time: 30 Minutes

Nursing Process Case Study Evaluation: Distribute the case study evaluation worksheet to learners. Ask them to use the Nursing Process to complete the activity. Once learners complete the activity, you will need to review their answers and provide an evaluation. This graded-activity is worth a total of 10 points. Specific instructions for grading this activity are outlined in the instructor version of the worksheet.

APPLICATION                                                                                                                                                           Time: TBD

Application Presentation and Review: Have learners reflect on and select a problem (or decision) in their personal lives that they can solve (or make) using the Scientific Method. Learners will develop a short presentation outlining how they used (or could use) the Scientific Method to solve the problem (or make the decision).

Learners will review at least three presentations using the following format: 1) List three things they learned from the presentation. 2) Two things they wished the presentation addressed. 3) One thing that they really loved about the presentation. Based on resources available, learners may use one of the presentation delivery options below.

Presentation Delivery Options

1. Digital Presentation: Learners will display the presentation in an online forum that allows a medium for review (Slide Share, Prezi, etc.) using any multimedia components that they choose (i.e., video, text, illustrations, photographs, animation). Encourage learners to be as creative as they wish.
2. Oral Presentation: Learners deliver the presentation in front of the class using any multimedia components they choose (i.e., video, text, poster board, PowerPoint, audio). Encourage learners to be as creative as they wish.
3. Visual Presentation: Learners deliver the presentation in a visual form like a poster board with photographs, props, etc. Encourage learners to be a creative as they wish.

Allow learners an appropriate amount of time to complete the presentation. For example, if the class meets once a week perhaps the presentation is due at the next class.

After learners complete the lesson, have them complete the lesson survey. Use this information to make adjustments the next time you teach the lesson.

Key Terms and Concepts

Scientific Method: “The scientific method is a process for experimentation that is used to explore observations and answer questions.” (Steps of the Scientific Method, n.d.)

Nursing Process: a series of five organized steps designed for nurses to deliver patient-focused care: assessing, diagnosing, planning, implementing, and evaluating. It is a modified version of the Scientific Method. (The Nursing Process, n.d.) 

Nursing Plan of Care: a written plan based on the patient’s assessment data, diagnosis and goals that nurses as well as other health professionals caring for the patient can access (The Nursing Process, n.d.) 

Part 3 - Supplemental Resources and References

Supplemental Resources

NURSING

ADPIE: The Nursing Process is a YouTube video that explains the Nursing Process in more detail. https://youtu.be/cIGiSRE3u1o

The American Nursing Association provides information about the basics of becoming a nurse. http://www.nursingworld.org/EspeciallyForYou/What-is-Nursing/Tools-You-Need/RegisteredNurseLicensing.html

The Occupational Outlook Guide provides information about a career in nursing. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm

O*NET Online provides information about a career in nursing. https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1141.00

SCIENTIFIC METHOD

The Scientific Method: Steps, Terms and Examples is a YouTube video that explains the Scientific Method in more detail. https://youtu.be/BVfI1wat2y8

FREE ONLINE PRESENTATION PLATFORM/TOOL (S) 

Slide Share https://www.slideshare.net/

Prezi https://prezi.com/

Piktochart https://piktochart.com/

References

Steps of the Scientific Method (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/science-fair/steps-of-the-scientific-method.

The Nursing Process (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/EspeciallyForYou/What-is-Nursing/Tools-You-Need/Thenursingprocess.html.

Attributions

The video The Scientific Method Song was created by Have Fun Teaching for the presentation portion of this lesson and published at https://www.youtube.com/embed/KIFz_-KzURY. This video is copyrighted and is not licensed under an open license. Embedded as permitted.