1. Using Sherpath to identify & address the “at-risk” learner?
Hello. My name is Cami Weber. I am a nurse educator, working with Elsevier. I am excited to discuss some practical tips for using the data & analytics from Sherpath to help you identify the at-risk learner. This discussion is not intended to demonstrate how to locate or explain each of the analytic pieces or materials available with in Sherpath. The purpose of this discussion is to demonstrate how routine monitoring of the analytics can help you identify who may be at-risk in your cohort and allow for early intervention. I will briefly discuss the variety of materials available to address the needs of every learner. In order to fully benefit from this discussion you should have already learned the general navigational aspects of Sherpath.
Cami Weber, MSN-Ed; MBA; RN
eSolutions Implementation Consultant
Elsevier

2. The “At-Risk” Learner……
Every nursing program has at-risk learners
Programs are rigorous & fast-paced
Reasons identified for being at-risk-
Lack of ability
Lack of motivation
Daily life pressures
Time (not enough, too much, poor management, etc.…)
Difficulty understanding content
Learning style
First, let’s talk a little bit about the at-risk learner & what we already know…..
It is fair to say that every nursing program experiences a population of at-risk learners. Nursing programs today are fast-paced & very rigorous! Sometimes this rigorous and fast paced environment is not conducive to the needs of the at-risk learner. Many nursing programs are lucky to have dedicated success centers that offer a variety of resources and tutoring services for the at-risk student. But, not all programs are so fortunate. That leaves the guess work for the faculty & students to figure out what to do in order to meet the needs of the student who is at-risk.
As faculty we don’t often have the luxury of additional time needed to aid the at-risk student and give them the attention they need. We know that many of the at-risk students don’t take the time to seek additional help & resources. Sometimes they simply don’t know how.
Sherpath is the solution to saving faculty time while helping the at-risk student. And, it is the students solution for taking accountability of their own learning by knowing exactly where their weak areas are on a daily basis, with every interaction they have with Sherpath.
According to the literature, there is an enormous amount of research available as to the reasons or causes of an at-risk student. Some believe it is due to a lack of motivation or ability by the student. This may be true in some instances, but the research clearly shows that there are a multitude of variables that can lead to students being labeled as, “at-risk.”
A students daily life pressures can certainly be a direct result of them being at-risk. Many times students put more time into their social life, work or family commitments. Thus, resulting in not enough time then to adequately devote to their studies. Which leads to issues with time management. Many students, simply do not know how to effectively manage their time.
Also, learning style is important to note as being a factor. Learning style can lead to not being able to understand the content as it is presented. With the variety of assignments and teaching materials available in Sherpath faculty are guaranteed that they can help combat many of these resulting at-risk factors.

3. Variety of learning methods available
Sherpath meets the needs of every learning style. It helps to combat that constant problem faculty face of, “what am I going to do to meet the needs of every learner?”
Sherpath addresses the need for active student learning and engagement. There area a variety of teaching materials & assignments available.
Readings
Quizzes/Exams
Activities
Discussions
Skills videos
Simulations

4. I’m Confused…..
While students are working through a lesson they can select the “I’m Confused” button. They will receive the same information again, only presented in a different way that may be easier for them to understand and comprehend.
Sherpath really does work to meet the need of every student…..

5. Sherpath Performance Data
With the cohort and individual student data & analytics you receive from Sherpath you can accurately & quickly identify the at-risk learners in your cohort. By following the students progress throughout the course you can easily identify your at-risk students. You receive analytics with every lesson, quiz, exam, skill & simulation the students complete.
Traditionally, most nursing courses include a lecture, a couple of assignments and exams. It’s usually not until after the exam that faculty are able to see if a student grasped the content or not. You don’t know who is at-risk in your cohort until after the exam. Waiting this long to know who is at-risk, can often be too late to successfully intervene.
Sherpath changes that. By monitoring the data and analytics, you & the at-risk student can intervene early. Before the day of the exam!

6. Student Accountability
We constantly hear that students need to take accountability for their own learning. When we are talking about an at-risk student this can be quite a challenge for both you as faculty and the student. Many times these students are so overwhelmed and just don’t know where to begin. They don’t know what to study or how to organize their material so they can study.
The individual student analytics make it easy to know which students may be at-risk. By simply monitoring the analytics you can guide your at-risk students and encourage them to go back and review certain material or spend more time in quiz coach. The students can see their own progress. They will know exactly where their weak areas are and what material they need to focus on.
Sherpath truly encourages the at risk students to take ownership of their learning.

7. At-Risk Learner is identified: Now what?
Faculty responsibilities-
Spot checks of performance & activity
Guide student learning
Cheerleader
Student responsibilities-
Personalized learning based on individual performance
Encourages student participation in learning
Student accountability
Encouraged review in areas of weakness
As we just discussed you can see how important it is to monitor the performance data to identify the at-risk students in your cohort. This should not take a lot of time, if you do routine spot checks of the data that’s available. Think of it as assessing the pulse of your cohort. Getting into this habit will help you as faculty become more familiar with the data available and you will eventually develop a habit for the kind of “go-to-data” you are looking for to identify & monitor the at-risk students. You will quickly be able to predict which students are considered at-risk.
Previously, we discussed that Sherpath gives students a personalized learning plan based on their individual performance. So, faculty can truly act as the guide to student learning. You don’t have to create a plan or extra work for the student, it’s all available to them in Sherpath. All you need to do is guide them and cheer them on!
Sherpath fosters our desire as faculty for student accountability, for their own learning!