Using AI and Cognitive Apprenticeship to Improve the Writing Capacity of Nursing Students

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Brief Abstract

Discover how to use artificial intelligence to assess college students’ scholarly writing performance. Learn how to apply the cognitive apprenticeship model to instructional design to improve students’ writing success in one semester. Mixed methods from a quasi-experimental research study will also be shared and recommendations for improving educational equity in higher ed.

Presenters

Lead Presenter: Rebecca Wolf, University of Rochester

Rebecca is trained as a reading specialist and instructional designer. She has over 30 years of teaching experience ranging from preschool to graduate level. She has chaired the writing task force committee at the University of Rochester's School of Nursing, implementing a writing across the curriculum initiative to improve the teaching of writing and provide faculty support and development. Rebecca earned her Ed.D. in Organizational Change and Leadership from University of Southern California. She has worked at UR since 2014.

Extended Abstract

Dr. Red Wolf will share the results from her Ed.D. dissertation, “Exploring the Scholarly Writing Development of Master’s Nursing Students.” Rebecca evaluated the effectiveness of a Writing Workshop course in developing students’ writing capacity and self-efficacy and found significant gains in both with large effect sizes. The interviewed students discussed transformations in their scholarly writing, critical thinking, professional communication skills, and confidence after participating in the course. Several of these students identified as non-native English speakers. Artificial intelligence was used to assess students’ pre- and post-course writing performance. The instructional design of the writing course and self-efficacy survey will be shared. Handouts on the instructional design and cognitive apprenticeship model will also be provided. Attendees will learn about brand new research results with recommendations on how to improve students’ writing success through AI assessment, instructional design, and a cognitive apprenticeship approach. (If I am allowed to present in a more interactive format, I would love to share samples of students’ writing and have attendee’s review the samples in small groups so they can learn how to use formative feedback to improve writing instruction!)