This little piggy went to market: using a health education market as a learning strategy for preregistration Bachelor of Nursing students

In the academic year 1997/98 at the University of Tasmania, students undertaking the research unit in their second year of the Bachelor of Nursing (BN) took part in producing a health education market for the staff and students on the Launceston campus of the University. The cafeteria and outside grassed areas were transformed into a network of information stalls, displays and activities. The students reported a constant flow of interested and enthusiastic people to their stalls. Integrating research findings, technical and interpersonal skills and creative ability, students were encouraged to synthesize many areas of theory in the nursing programme in order to present high quality, informative and engaging stalls. Formal evaluation of both group and individual work was integrated into the process in such a way as to provide prompt feedback and encouragement, ongoing quality control and to generate a final grade for each student.