Im virtuellen Umfeld von Hochschulen ist in letzter Zeit zunehmend ein Phänomen zu beobachten, das für die Zukunft von Bildungseinrichtungen von maßgeblicher Bedeutung sein könnte. Die Rede ist von selbst gesteuerten Lerngemeinschaften, die das Internet nutzen, um sich gegenseitig bei der Bewältigung des Studiums zu unterstützen. (Auf von Lehrenden didaktisch inszenierte Blended Learning Kurse wird im Rahmen dieses Beitrags nicht eingegangen.)

Purpose – International experience is important to prepare university students for successful career in the globalized knowledge economy. However, learners in developing countries have limited access to international educational experiences due to travel costs and constrains, political instability that prohibit academic visits from foreign students and instructors, societal restrictions on certain groups like female students, or old educational systems that resist didactical and organizational changes. The emergence of Social Media enabled the development of interactive learnercentered virtual learning environments that enable collaborative knowledge building in online social communities.This empirical study aims to explore how to provide Jordanian university students with international academic experience during their regular study programs without travelling abroad. Virtual Collaborative Learning has been introduced and examined in this specific context due to its reported high potential for developing countries. Design/methodology/approach – Following an educational design based approach, a Virtual Collaborative Learning arrangement has been re-designed to involve Jordanian students in a formal masters’ course with German students at the Technische Universität Dresden. Factors that affect participated Jordanian students’ perception of this experience have been examined using deep interviews and qualitative content analyses methods. Originality/value – The value of this study lays in the innovative approach to provide Jordanian university students with international learning experience by integrating them in a virtual community with peers from Germany using Social Media application. Practical implications – This study delivers empirical evidence on the potential of welldesigned Virtual Collaborative Learning arrangements to provide students with enjoyable, high-impact, immersive international learning experience at their home university. This helps universities, especially in Arab and developing countries, to grant their students a new learning experience using affordable easy-to-use Social Media solutions.

Der vorliegende Beitrag setzt sich mit den Möglichkeiten problemorientierten Lernens in kollaborativen virtuellen Umgebungen am Beispiel eines Mock-Trial-Trainings in der OpenSim-basierten Virtual Learning World auseinander. Ausgangspunkt der Auseinandersetzung stellen die Motivation des Einsatzes virtueller Trainings und grundsätzliche Handlungsangebote kollaborativer virtueller Umgebungen einschließlich ihrer Potentiale aus bildungstheoretischer Perspektive dar. Bestehende Mehrwerte und Herausforderungen beim Einsatz virtueller Trainingsumgebungen werden anschließend anhand einer empirischen Untersuchung, die im Rahmen der Entwicklung eines Mock-Trial-Trainings durchgeführt wurde, aufgezeigt und diskutiert.

Teoretiese navorsing is onderneem om 'n model vir kurrikulumontwikkeling vir die Diploma vir Registrasie as Verpleegkundige (algemene, psigiatriese, gemeenskaps-) en Vroedvrou te ontwikkel. Twee hooffaktore beinvloed verpleegonderwys. Op globale vlak word verpleegonderwys beinvloed deur die realiteite van 'n inligtingtegnologie-gedrewe samelewing. Dit noodsaak die ontwikkeling van kritiese denke, aanpasbaarheid ten opsigte van konstante sosiale verandering en 'n verbintenis tot lewenslange leer. Op nasionale vlak word verpleegonderwys beinvloed deur 'n nasionale gesondheidstelsel wat gekwalifiseerde verpleegkundiges vereis, wat in staat is om omvattende gesondheidsorg te lewer. 'n Situasie-analise het gelei tot die identifisering van twee hoofkonsepte wat die verpleegkundekurrikulum beinvloed, naamlik lcritiese denke en omvattende gesondheidsorg. Vorige navorsing dui daarop dat verpleegdosente nie paraat is ten opsigte van verwikkelinge in die onderwys nie. Dit kan negatiewe gevolge he vir innoverende kurrikulumontwikkeling in verpleegkunde ten einde die professie strategies te posisioneer om te voldoen aan die eise van die komende eeu. Die navorser het beoog om die leemte te oorbrug deur middel van navorsing wat gemik was op die daarstelling van 'n omvattende kurrikulumontwikkelingstrategie wat kan dien as praktiese riglyn vir die implementering van kurrikulumontwikkeling in verpleegkunde. Op grond van 'n analise van die konsep kurri/culum, 'n situasie-analise en die interpretering daarvan, is die Model vir Kurrikulumontwikkeling in Verpleegkunde gekonseptualiseer. Die model kan verpleegdosente in staat stel om fundamentele kurrikulumverandering te bewerkstellig en 'n relevante kurrikulum daar te stel, deur gespesifiseerde kurrikulumontwikkelingstake stelselmatig af te handel. Die implikasies van die konsepte lcritiese denke en omvattende gesondheidsorg vir die verpleegkundekurrikulum, is uitgespel deur kriteria vir die nuwe verpleegkundekurrikulum te formuleer / The researcher undertook theoretical research to develop a curriculum development model for the Diploma for Registration as a Nurse (General, Psychiatric, Community) and Midwife. There are two main tendencies that influence nursing education. On a global level nursing education is influenced by realities that are inherent in an information technology-driven world. This requires the development of critical thinking skills, adaptability to constant social change and a commitment to life-long learning. Nationally, nursing education is influenced by a national health system requiring trained nurses who are able to render comprehensive health care. A situation analysis resulted in the identification of two main concepts that influence the nursing curriculum namely, critical thinking and comprehensive health care. Previous research indicates that nurse educators are outdated in terms of developments in education. This can have negative consequences for innovative curriculum development in nursing in order to position the nursing profession strategically to meet the demands of the next century. This limitation prompted the researcher to conduct research that was aimed at designing a comprehensive curriculum development strategy to serve as a practical guideline on how to implement curriculum development in nursing. Based on an analysis of the concept curriculum, a situation analysis and the interpretation thereof: the researcher conceptualized the Curriculum Development Model for Nursing. The model will enable nurse educators to effect fundamental curriculum change and the development of a relevant curriculum by completing specified curriculum development tasks systematically. The implications of the concepts critical thinking and comprehensive health care for the nursing curriculum, were elucidated by formulating criteria for a new nursing curriculum. Key terms: curriculum; curriculum development; curriculum foundation; curriculum structure; curriculum design; situation analysis; critical thinking; reflective practice; comprehensive health care; comprehensive nursing curriculum; community based curriculum; problem based learning; media assisted learning; ~ve learning; reflective learning; experiential learning; mediated learning. / Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Advanced Nursing Science)

Teoretiese navorsing is onderneem om 'n model vir kurrikulumontwikkeling vir die Diploma vir Registrasie as Verpleegkundige (algemene, psigiatriese, gemeenskaps-) en Vroedvrou te ontwikkel. Twee hooffaktore beinvloed verpleegonderwys. Op globale vlak word verpleegonderwys beinvloed deur die realiteite van 'n inligtingtegnologie-gedrewe samelewing. Dit noodsaak die ontwikkeling van kritiese denke, aanpasbaarheid ten opsigte van konstante sosiale verandering en 'n verbintenis tot lewenslange leer. Op nasionale vlak word verpleegonderwys beinvloed deur 'n nasionale gesondheidstelsel wat gekwalifiseerde verpleegkundiges vereis, wat in staat is om omvattende gesondheidsorg te lewer. 'n Situasie-analise het gelei tot die identifisering van twee hoofkonsepte wat die verpleegkundekurrikulum beinvloed, naamlik lcritiese denke en omvattende gesondheidsorg. Vorige navorsing dui daarop dat verpleegdosente nie paraat is ten opsigte van verwikkelinge in die onderwys nie. Dit kan negatiewe gevolge he vir innoverende kurrikulumontwikkeling in verpleegkunde ten einde die professie strategies te posisioneer om te voldoen aan die eise van die komende eeu. Die navorser het beoog om die leemte te oorbrug deur middel van navorsing wat gemik was op die daarstelling van 'n omvattende kurrikulumontwikkelingstrategie wat kan dien as praktiese riglyn vir die implementering van kurrikulumontwikkeling in verpleegkunde. Op grond van 'n analise van die konsep kurri/culum, 'n situasie-analise en die interpretering daarvan, is die Model vir Kurrikulumontwikkeling in Verpleegkunde gekonseptualiseer. Die model kan verpleegdosente in staat stel om fundamentele kurrikulumverandering te bewerkstellig en 'n relevante kurrikulum daar te stel, deur gespesifiseerde kurrikulumontwikkelingstake stelselmatig af te handel. Die implikasies van die konsepte lcritiese denke en omvattende gesondheidsorg vir die verpleegkundekurrikulum, is uitgespel deur kriteria vir die nuwe verpleegkundekurrikulum te formuleer / The researcher undertook theoretical research to develop a curriculum development model for the Diploma for Registration as a Nurse (General, Psychiatric, Community) and Midwife. There are two main tendencies that influence nursing education. On a global level nursing education is influenced by realities that are inherent in an information technology-driven world. This requires the development of critical thinking skills, adaptability to constant social change and a commitment to life-long learning. Nationally, nursing education is influenced by a national health system requiring trained nurses who are able to render comprehensive health care. A situation analysis resulted in the identification of two main concepts that influence the nursing curriculum namely, critical thinking and comprehensive health care. Previous research indicates that nurse educators are outdated in terms of developments in education. This can have negative consequences for innovative curriculum development in nursing in order to position the nursing profession strategically to meet the demands of the next century. This limitation prompted the researcher to conduct research that was aimed at designing a comprehensive curriculum development strategy to serve as a practical guideline on how to implement curriculum development in nursing. Based on an analysis of the concept curriculum, a situation analysis and the interpretation thereof: the researcher conceptualized the Curriculum Development Model for Nursing. The model will enable nurse educators to effect fundamental curriculum change and the development of a relevant curriculum by completing specified curriculum development tasks systematically. The implications of the concepts critical thinking and comprehensive health care for the nursing curriculum, were elucidated by formulating criteria for a new nursing curriculum. Key terms: curriculum; curriculum development; curriculum foundation; curriculum structure; curriculum design; situation analysis; critical thinking; reflective practice; comprehensive health care; comprehensive nursing curriculum; community based curriculum; problem based learning; media assisted learning; ~ve learning; reflective learning; experiential learning; mediated learning. / Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Advanced Nursing Science)