External Validation”
Teaching awards:
2021: Lindback Teaching Award
2019: Outstanding Nursing Award= Rutgers School of Nursing
2019 ACP-MIT Hacking Medicine Challenge Grand Champion
2105 Chancellors Award for Teaching Excellence
Presentation and Student Interaction:
Student feedback through SIRS reflects positively on the course structure, assignments, methods, and classroom environment. Students feel respected, cared for, and value the course assignments, organization, and plan to prepare for the NCLEX.
Student: SIRS: Student SIRS data reflects teaching effectiveness and course quality with scores consistently above the departmental mean. In addition to scores, I pride myself in a high response rate every semester.
Student comments from SIRS: Italicized student comments reflect evidence of teaching philosophy and effectiveness of methods.
Methods: I enjoyed how we were able to work through several case studies each week throughout the semester. I really believe that this was a great way for us to prepare for quizzes and the NCLEX exam as we were able to have group discussions and work through them together. I really liked how Dr. Avallone prepares the class and gives us resources, she was always available for us if we ever needed anything, and was so supportive of us throughout the semester.
Methods: I enjoyed the case studies in this class and how you first looked over it yourself, then in a group, and then as a whole class. It made you open your eyes and see how many different things could happen or be needed.
Methods: The case studies helped lock concepts in because questions I got wrong on the tests made their way into the case studies and information was sealed into my head more if I was off about something and the rest of the group seemed to be on the same track so the case studies helped me to identify what concepts I didn’t have locked to memory that my classmates did. It also highlighted when I was thinking about something critically and could teach my classmates.
Methods, rigor, course planning: Dr. Avallone truly cared about our success. She may have been hard on us at times, but it was always with good intention and with our best interest in mind. Dr. A had a reason behind every assignment and activity we did, and made sure to include speakers throughout the semester that positively contributed to our learning or future goals. The case studies that Dr. A made were helpful and encouraged learning through collaboration and teamwork, which is not something we often got to do in past semesters.
Methods: Dr. Avallone was my favorite professor throughout my entire schooling at Rutgers. She is extremely helpful in creating a plan of study for the NCLEX and wants her students to succeed. Her case studies were extremely helpful and having the Uworld questions assigned each week really forced me to apply myself and reinforce anything I was struggling with. This class is definitely going to help me and others become better nurses.
Methods: This was one of the most well–organized of my canvas course shells this semester. The modules and assignments and grades were clear, easy to understand and relate back to, and I didn’t feel lost or frustrated trying to find things.
Caring: Dr. Avallone is a both a wonderful instructor, mentor, and person. She truly does care for her students’ performance, not just in the classroom but outside of it. A professor with outstanding character, she truly made me feel like I mattered more than just my scores, and reinforced that I was more than a grade. I was honored to be one of her students and she truly helped me grow intellectually through her case studies we engaged in as a class.
Caring/Rigor, Effectiveness: She wants everyone to do well and pass and be great nurses and you can truly see that. She genuinely cares and did not spoon–feed us. She was hard on us, which was what we needed because none of this material is easy. It was so helpful to be in this class because I feel like I have improved so much since the beginning.
Caring/Excellence Dr. Avallone is a breath of fresh air here at Rutgers Camden. Her approach to communication, education, and support simply cannot compare to any professors here at Rutgers. She is always prepared, always approachable, and always professional. I enjoy her classes as she interacts with the students in a way that invites ideas and discussion. She answers emails at a rate that I’ve never experienced here at Rutgers. Typically my emails will go unanswered by other professors, but Dr. Avallone responds swiftly. She is quick to extend her hand when a student is in need and is a true cheerleader for the ABS program.
Caring: Thank you, Professor Avallone! I felt extremely cared for and looked after. I enjoyed Professor Avallone’s pep talks and am disappointed that this is my only class with her – she is great! I will miss her.
Caring/Effectiveness: Dr. Avallone definitely encourages my intellectual growth and process. Her communication was clear, which made the stressful life of a student easier. I felt that Dr. Avallone did everything in her power to make sure I was successful – both in class and after the semester ends to prepare for my boards. I feel fortunate to have such a caring professor who did everything in their power to set me up for success.
Caring: The professor was very encouraging throughout the semester. Even after failing the first comprehensive, she made me feel confidence and gave me the encouragement that I needed.
Excellence: Dr. Avallone made sure to present the material in the best way. After her classes I always feel as though I have left with something. I had a meeting with her in her office and the encouragement she gave me pushed me to finish the semester off strong. She is professional and very knowledgeable.
Excellence: Dr. Avallone is an awesome instructor. Since taking her class my progress in nursing has increased so much. Being in her class taught me how to understand NCLEX questions and how to become a better test taker and to organize my time better.
Caring/Excellence: She constantly checked in on our progress and encouraged meetings with her if students felt discouraged or if she noticed struggle by the student. She really wants us to pass the NCLEX.
Excellence: The huge improvement in my scores reflects that the professors’ methods have been effective. I am grateful for this course. It has given me more confidence about taking the NCLEX.
Student Outcomes: Course outcomes are evident in NCLEX results and ATI improvement over the course of the semester.
NCLEX results: There are many factors impacting the NCLEX pass rates in addition to the Capstone course. The pass rates are a culmination of a well-designed curriculum, quality clinical experiences, and consistent efforts across all courses by engaged and competent faculty. Due to COVID, our students and our educational offerings have experienced challenges during remote instruction, as well as challenges returning to campus and clinicals. Nevertheless, we have improved first time NCLEX pass rates from 82.4 in 2022 to 94% in 2023.
ATI outcomes: In Capstone, students take a Comprehensive Practice A assessment at the beginning of the semester and then take a Proctored Comprehensive Predictor at the end of the semester. Students improved significantly over the course of the semester, increasing their raw % score and their percentile ranking compared to national cohorts of test takers. This improvement in mean scores and percentile ranking over the semester demonstrates effectiveness of the Capstone course.
|
COHORT |
COMP A mean score (beginning of semester) |
PERCENTILE (beginning of semester) |
COMP PRED mean score (End of semester) |
PERCENTILE (End of semester) |
|
|
ABS 1222 |
63% |
14TH |
76% |
68TH |
|
|
ABS 0523 |
64% |
18TH |
73% |
57TH |
|
|
TRAD 0523 |
62% |
13TH |
71% |
49TH |
|
|
ABS 1223 |
67.3% |
29TH |
74.3% |
67TH |
|