Using Debates to Teach Evidence-Based Practice in Large Online Courses.

Background: To engage in evidence-based practice (EBP), baccalaureate nursing graduates' competencies must include locating, interpreting, appraising, and applying research findings. Faculty are challenged to find effective ways to incorporate this content in large online courses. Method: Faculty in a thriving college of nursing used interactive debates to teach EBP skills in a large (200+ students) online undergraduate course. Results: Students remain highly engaged while practicing critical thinking, teamwork, leadership, delegation, communication skills, and peer evaluation through participation in a series of faculty-facilitated online debates. Conclusion: Meticulous course organization and use of structured debates allows one instructor to teach skills for EBP, while keeping students engaged with each other, the instructor, and the material. Use of debates and the amount of engagement among students and faculty achieved could not be accomplished in a large face-to-face course.