Computer assisted learning: the potential for teaching and assessing in nursing

This article discusses computer assisted learning (CAL) and the importance of applying it in nurse education. The articles recognizes the general tech nological developments as exemplified by the Teaching and Learning Technolo gy Programme (TLTP) from which ideas about application and benefits came. T he ideas from TLTP are hereby used in CAL and applied to nursing and health care undergraduate programmes in one university. In the light of this exper ience the main intention of this article is to consider the benefits and co sts of introducing computer programmes as part of the teaching provision fo r nurses and other health-care professionals both at beginner and advanced level. The article further argues that CAL can also be used for patient tea ching thus providing transferable skills and benefits for teachers as well as learners, be they students or patients. To support such multiple uses of CAL selected examples will be offered and appropriate conclusions will be drawn. (C) 1999 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.