Digital Literacy in the Nursing Curriculum

We want you to be able to use a range of different digital devices during your studies in both the university and the practice-learning environment. Swansea University Libraries on Swansea and St David’s campuses both have desktop PCs and laptops available for you to use.  You are encouraged to bring your personal digital devices (e.g. laptop, tablets, Smartphones) to classes to enhance your understanding of topics and engage actively within the classroom.

We want you to develop skills in using technologies that will enhance your life beyond your studies and the university. You have free access to Office 365 including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Onedrive and will have opportunities to use all of these during your studies e.g. for essay writing, presentations, developing posters.

You will have the opportunity both in and outside the classroom to download and access different information from the internet. Lecturers regularly use interactive educational tools such as Kahoot, Socrates, Mentimeter and Vevox, enabling students to develop their general computer skills and ability to access the internet.   In addition, we use apps that are available on Android and iOS devices such as the Resuscitation Council UK Lifesaver app (available from https://www.resus.org.uk/apps/lifesaver/). 

You can seek support from the librarians in searching, collecting, evaluating and storing information that you need for your learning. You will have free access to reference managers such as Endnote, Mendeley and Zotero.

Lecturers will engage you in synchronous and asynchronous learning activities such as Wikis, Blogs, and discussion boards through Canvas.

Through mind maps, diagrams, wikis, blogs, discussion boards, audio and video.

You will have access to Microsoft Outlook for emails. Academic mentors may use Skype or video conferencing when you are on placement to discuss your progress. We will encourage you to use social media to enhance your professional network and develop your professional identity.

You will be encouraged by lecturers and librarians to judge the validity of the content that you find on the internet and be given support in finding appropriate material from sources that can be trusted.

Digital Services will notify you via email when there is a threat of malware and viruses and we expect you to put in place actions that would protect yourself from such threats. You will also gain an understanding of how to protect and monitor your digital identity and footprint.

We expect you to communicate and collaborate with others in line with the Code (Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC), 2018) and the social media guidance set out by the NMC (2019).

We will provide you with information on how to assess, reduce or avoid digital technology when it has a negative effect on your health. 

Using Canvas, Safemedicate, Wikis, Blogs, discussion boards and the intranet.

By including digital instruments into your everyday life to increase the quality of your life.