An Educator’s Perspective: How Picmonic Enhances Nursing Education

Nursing students face a huge undertaking in learning and retaining vast amounts of complex information in a short period of time. Additionally, nurse educators juggling high workloads and pedagogical activities coupled with staff shortages are spread thin. Both need effective tools to increase learning and teaching efficiency to achieve desired outcomes. 

One educator at a nursing program in Virginia shares how she found great success with Picmonic, powered by TrueLearn, as a teaching tool, leveraging the platform’s audio-visual mnemonic lessons that break down complex, abstract nursing school concepts into bite-sized information that’s easy to learn, retain, and recall. In this interview, she details how she integrated Picmonic into the curriculum to enhance student learning and exam prep. 

What challenges were your students facing in their studies before the introduction of Picmonic?

Many of my students struggled with grasping complex concepts directly from textbooks, which made it difficult for them to fully understand and retain the information necessary for their exams and future careers.

How did integrating Picmonic into your teaching method make a difference?

Integrating Picmonic into the curriculum was a game changer. It turned the lights on for my students, allowing them to comprehend everything they were learning in a more complete way. The visual learning system made abstract concepts tangible and easier to remember.

Can you describe how you use Picmonic in your daily teaching routine?

I use Picmonic primarily in my presentation slides. The process typically follows a pattern where I begin by lecturing about the topic, and then we review the Picmonic together and discuss it. Finally, we do the quiz as a class. This method not only introduces them to the concept but reinforces their learning through visual aids and active participation.

Can you share specific instances where Picmonic has benefited your students?

One of my students was struggling with most of her tests because she found it difficult to retain information from textbooks and lectures. We began incorporating Picmonic into Pharmacology lessons and it made a significant difference—it transformed her learning experience! As a result, she excelled in Pharmacology, demonstrating a deep understanding of the material and achieving success on her tests. This student went on to thrive in the program. 

The amazing turnaround that led to her being able to quickly grasp complex concepts is largely attributed to how Picmonic simplifies the learning material. By adopting a multimodal approach that encourages learning through multiple avenues, Picmonic helps students learn, retain, and recall information more effectively and efficiently.

How have the overall academic outcomes of your classes changed since integrating Picmonic into your teaching?

Exam performance and course pass rates have all improved since integrating Picmonic into my classes. When we take exams on paper, students will make notes referencing Picmonic on their tests, so I know how much their success is tied to this. The overall success of students makes a big difference, but it’s the individual stories that paint an even deeper picture. By integrating Picmonic with lectures and exams, students are more engaged with the material, learn it better, and see improved exam scores and graduation rates.

What advice would you give to other educators considering the integration of Picmonic into their teaching?

I highly recommend educators start using Picmonic early in their teaching process. It’s a powerful tool that enhances the learning experience significantly, making complex information accessible and engaging for students.

This educator’s experience demonstrates the impact of leveraging Picmonic within the curriculum to drive optimal student learning and academic outcomes. The platform’s audio-visual mnemonics align with the brain’s natural, three-step memory encoding process and draw on learning science strategies—such as the Von Restorff Effect that demonstrates that one is more likely to remember a fact if it’s associated with wacky, bizarre humor—that help deepen comprehension and long-term retention. Picmonic is research-proven to improve exam scores by 55%—after just one week—and elevate long-term retention by 331%!

How can nurse educators leverage Picmonic to ensure students learn, retain, and recall complex scientific facts more effectively? Learn more in our Educator Guide.

Download and learn:

• Why Picmonic’s bite-sized mnemonic lessons are the ideal learning aid for nursing students
• Ways to help nursing students create powerful memory associations and optimize their course and board exam performance
• How to utilize Picmonic’s analytics dashboard to track academic progress and identify at-risk students