Nursing faculty should be aware of the challenges of helping nursing students to remember content. Because of the amount of knowledge students must acquire to become nurses, helping students gain the necessary knowledge base to pass the NCLEX® is a big challenge. Elsevier Adaptive Quizzing (EAQ) has a ready-made quizzing bank with thousands of questions to help meet this need.
EAQ relies on learning science research that quizzing aids retention in long-term memory. Frequent quizzing improves recall by requiring the brain to multiply and reinforce neural pathways. When a student encounters a quiz question they do not know, it forces them to think about it in a different way, answer the question, and learn from the rationale. This makes learning harder but more effective. Research shows that the “testing effect” improves test scores.
Here are our recommendations on how to use EAQ to boost test and HESI scores.
Overview of EAQ
There are two types of EAQ—EAQ in Sherpath and EAQ for NCLEX. Each version includes Mastery, Custom by Topic, and Custom by Question. Here is our breakdown for each section and our recommendations for applying them in your course.
EAQ in Sherpath
Mastery assignments provide a personalized quizzing approach with the goal of having students answer increasingly difficult questions as they move through the nursing course. To use EAQ the most effectively, we suggest faculty to:
- Assign a Level 1 (Novice) Mastery quiz on a new, key concept the week it is taught.
- Assign Level 2 (Intermediate) quizzes on selected key concepts prior to a unit exam.
- Assign Level 3 (Proficient) quizzes on selected key concepts prior to the final exam.
Custom by Topic assignments allow the faculty or student to select a topic and a specific number of questions.
- Consider using for remediation after course exams on the students’ top 3 weak areas.
- Require as homework after class to improve learning.
Custom by Question assignments allow the faculty to build a quiz by choosing questions relevant to the selected topic area.
- Use 5 questions at the beginning of class to evaluate memory from a previous class period.
- Use 10 questions at the end of class to evaluate students’ understanding.
- Require as a ticket to class. Incorporate weak areas into a case study or in class.
Additionally, EAQ in Sherpath includes Next Generation NCLEX questions. Each bundled case study includes seven questions—one single case study-type question and one unfolding case study with six questions. These can be used at the end of class to help your students practice clinical judgment skills.
EAQ NCLEX
Similar to EAQ in Sherpath, Mastery assignments also provide a personalized quizzing approach with the goal of having students answer increasingly difficult questions. These can be incorporated as they move through their nursing program to emphasize NCLEX questions. It is also important to map Mastery expectations throughout the curriculum.
Custom by Topic assignments allow the faculty or student to select a topic and a specific number of questions.
- Assign one or two 30-question Custom by Topic quizzes per week to help your students achieve Mastery.
Custom by Question assignments allow the faculty to build a quiz by choosing questions relevant to current or past content. Use in class with beginning students to help them practice NCLEX-style questions.
HESI/Test Prep and Remediation
We recommend faculty implement these tips in courses and throughout the program for test preparation and strengthening areas of weakness:
- Check class and student performance data every week in EAQ in Sherpath to identify at-risk students and reinforce content.
- For students who fail a HESI exam or an instructor-made test, use EAQ in Sherpath or EAQ NCLEX to assign three 30-question Custom by Topic quizzes in their top three weakest areas as remediation. Require them to retake the quizzes until they achieve an 80% or higher. Students can assign these themselves to save faculty time.
- During the final semester, use EAQ NCLEX to assign quizzes at Mastery Level 2 (Intermediate) and Mastery Level 3 (Proficient) in the Client Needs Categories to prepare for the HESI Exit Exam and NCLEX. Students should continue quizzing at Mastery Level 3 (Proficient) in their weakest areas after graduation until they take the NCLEX.