CU Nursing - Spring/Summer 2019 - 15

CLASS NOTES

strategy is called MASK-EDTM and was
invented by Professor Kerry Reid-Searl
at CQUniversity Australia, specifically
for nursing students. Employed by a
limited number of programs in the US,
MASK-EDTM requires a commitment to
the technique and a significant amount
of training.

Dr. JoAnn
Crownover

THE SET-UP
For nursing students, the intrigue begins
months in advance at the beginning of the
semester with "special guest" highlighted
on syllabi. Students assume the guest
is part of the learning process. They are
unaware that the guest is not just any
patient or speaker. The speaker is one
of their instructors who has assumed the
identity of "Lilly" - complete with a new
face, hair, posture, mannerisms, and voice.
Unrecognizable to the students, the faculty member takes them on a journey of
discovery.

THE TRANSFORMATION
Fast forward six weeks into the semester.
Fifteen minutes prior to class, CU
faculty member Dr. JoAnn Crownover

By transforming into another
identity, I become a person with a
distinct story that is relevant to the
learning experience." - Dr. Crownover
becomes "Lilly", a retired nurse who
now cares for her chronically ill husband. Looking and sounding like no
one the students have seen or heard
before, Lilly enters the classroom and
begins speaking to the class.
With a distinctive voice, posture, and
charismatic personality, Lilly captures the students' attention while
sharing her own illness, symptoms,

and medications. She expresses concerns about the side
effects of her medication regimen. She has the class
enthralled, collecting feedback and creating a unique
learning environment.
"By transforming into another identity, I become a person
with a distinct story that is relevant to the learning experience. This allows me to direct the learning process, guiding
the student and responding spontaneously in character to
their questions," says Dr. Crownover.

THE REVEAL
Intrigued and interested in Lilly's story and her passion
for nursing, the students are engaged and pepper her with
questions. They use what they know about drugs to help
her use her medications safely and appropriately.
As the lecture is ending, Lilly simply turns her back to the
crowd, removes her mask, turns around and reveals herself
as Dr. Crownover.
The reveal never fails to surprise.
"I was genuinely surprised that Lilly was actually Dr.
Crownover. The whole class was actively engaged with Lilly
and invested in teaching her about medication. It was a great
way to take a break from the normal classroom setting and
into a new and exciting style of learning," said Chelsea
Triolo, UCAN nursing student.
Lilly plans to pop in and out of future classes. Even though
the students know who Lilly really is, she's still believable.
"They know who I am and still fall back into a normal conversation with Lilly. It never feels contrived, unnatural or
strained," says Dr. Crownover.

Spring/Summer 2019

CU Nursing - Spring/Summer 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CU Nursing - Spring/Summer 2019