Factors influencing nursing students' preference for a hybrid format delivery in a pathophysiology course

A blended learning exercise physiology theory module that supports student autonomy and improves academic performance

A limited number of studies have explored the impact of blended exercise physiology theory curricula on student learning and experience. This study aimed to investigate the impact of an exercise physiology blended learning theory module on student performance, engagement, and perceptions. The module, which comprised a range of elements (student guide, lecturer-recorded videos, supplementary videos, formative quizzes, workshops, and discussion forum), was implemented in a third-year subject taken by students in nonspecialist undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees. Students chose which elements to engage with to support their learning. Exam performance was assessed by comparing exam marks from fully face-to-face delivery to the blended delivery with an independent t test. Student perceptions were determined via an end-of-module questionnaire comprised of Likert-scale questions and open-ended questions. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted on the Likert-scale responses, and qualitative content analysis was conducted on the open-ended responses. Student engagement with online resources was determined through analysis of access statistics from the learning management system. Student exam marks in the blended learning student group were significantly higher (P < 0.0001) than in the face-to-face group, even though the questions were of a higher Bloom's level in the blended learning group. Students preferred blended delivery over fully face-to-face delivery. Most students accessed the student guide, lecturer-recorded videos, and quizzes, with supplementary videos, workshops, and discussion forums accessed by fewer students. In conclusion, a blended exercise physiology theory module improved student exam performance and was positively perceived by students, and engagement with the elements of the module was varied.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Few studies have explored the impact of blended delivery of exercise physiology theory curricula on student learning and experience. This study investigated the impact of a novel blended model on student learning and experience. The module comprised a range of elements (student guide, lecturer-recorded videos, supplementary videos, formative quizzes, workshops, and discussion forum), where students were able to choose which elements to engage with to support their learning.

Blended learning versus face-to-face learning in an undergraduate nursing health assessment course: A quasi-experimental study

BACKGROUND

Blended learning, which integrates face-to-face and online instruction, is increasingly being adopted. A gap remains in the literature related to blended learning, self-efficacy, knowledge and perceptions in undergraduate nursing.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate outcomes of self-efficacy, knowledge and perceptions related to the implementation of a newly blended course.

DESIGN

This was a quasi-experimental pre-post test design.

SETTING

This study was conducted at an undergraduate university in Alberta, Canada.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 217 second-year undergraduate nursing students participated and 187 participants completed all study components.

METHODS

A convenience sampling method was used. Data were collected at the start and end of the semesters. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics using R(3.4.3) and R-Studio(1.1.423).

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in self-efficacy scores between groups or in the pre-post surveys (p > 0.100) over time. There was no significant difference in knowledge between the blended online and face-to-face groups (p > 0.100). For students in the blended course, perceptions of the online learning environment were positive.

CONCLUSION

Blended learning has the potential to foster innovative and flexible learning opportunities. This study supports continued use and evaluation of blended learning as a pedagogical approach.

Final year pre-registration student nurses perceptions of which taught theoretical knowledge is important for practice

This research illuminates the perceptions of eighteen final year undergraduate pre-registration student nurses, to understand what theoretical knowledge was perceived to be useful during their pre-registration nursing education, and what was not. The research adopted a qualitative phenomenological approach, and utilised a sample size of eighteen final year student nurses as the data source. The data collection method consisted of semi-structured interviews and the study took place at a Higher Education Institution within the North West of England approved to provide pre-registration nurse education. Participants provided their data during their final year of their undergraduate pre-registration nursing programme, via semi-structured, digitally recorded interviews, which were transcribed verbatim. The transcribed interviews were then analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. The findings generated three themes, these were; important knowledge to learn for everyday practice, irrelevant for my future role, and, can we have some more? Findings demonstrate what aspects of the taught curriculum student nurses perceive to be of use to their practice, and why they perceive this to be the case. This affects how student nurses approach their learning during their nursing education. In addition it was clear what participants perceived was not useful for their practice and why this was the case. Additionally, participants offered suggestions of what they would also like adding to their curriculum, and provided insights for what they would like adding to the curriculum, which can be used for enhancing this. This is useful when developing future curricula to understand which aspects student nurses learn in a deep and superficial way. This can provide a useful insight for to ensure that patient care is not compromised.

A comparison of student performance and satisfaction between a traditional and integrative approach to teaching an introductory radiology course on the extremities

OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of the study was to compare student performance and student satisfaction ratings for an introductory extremities radiology course taught using 2 different educational methods.

METHODS:

One group of students was taught using a traditional face-to-face instruction method, and the other group received an integrative blended-learning approach. A multivariate analysis of scores on lecture and laboratory examinations was performed to detect differences in student performance between the 2 methods. An independent t test was performed to compare the final course averages between the 2 methods. χ² Analysis was used to compare the distribution of letter grades and levels of satisfaction between the 2 groups.

RESULTS:

Test scores were higher for the integrative approach than for the traditional face-to-face method ( p < .05). However, the differences were not meaningful, as the greatest improvement in correct responses was only for 2 questions. Students appeared to be more satisfied with the integrative approach when compared to the traditional method ( p < .05).

CONCLUSION:

Student satisfaction with the educational delivery methods in an introductory extremities radiology course using an integrative approach was greater than for the traditional face-to-face instruction method. Student performance was similar between the 2 cohorts.

The impact of timetable changes on student achievement and learning experiences

BACKGROUND

Many pre-registration nursing programs in Australia use distributive models of clinical placement whereby students attend placement on regular days each week of the teaching semester. The use of this model offers practical advantages by increasing the placement offerings, but reduces the weekdays available for students to attend on-campus classes. The impact of introducing this model on the delivery of on-campus classes has not been examined.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to explore the impact of delivering classes using a condensed weekly timetable on the academic achievement, learning experiences and approaches to learning of pre-registration Bachelor of Nursing Science students at an Australian regional university.

METHODS

This was a mixed methods study, including Likert-type and free text responses. Second-year students studying Human Pathophysiology and Pharmacology were invited to complete a questionnaire about their learning practices and experiences; student grades were obtained from official university records.

RESULTS

The academic achievement of students learning under the condensed class schedule was approximately 7.5% lower than that achieved by cohorts prior to the timetable changes. This resulted in an additional 9% of the cohort failing the subject compared to previous cohorts. Many students reported that they did not prepare adequately for classes and that their learning experiences were negatively impacted by the condensed class timetable.

CONCLUSIONS

The incorporation of a distributed model for clinical placements required major changes to the delivery of on-campus coursework classes and added to the semester workload for some Nursing Science students. These changes coincided with lower academic achievement by students learning Human Pathophysiology and Pharmacology and poorer quality learning experiences. The development of students' awareness of how they study and the effectiveness of their study practices may help them to develop self-regulated learning skills which will assist them to succeed in diverse learning environments and workplaces.

Best practices for learning physiology: combining classroom and online methods

Physiology is a requisite course for many professional allied health programs and is a foundational science for learning pathophysiology, health assessment, and pharmacology. Given the demand for online learning in the health sciences, it is important to evaluate the efficacy of online and in-class teaching methods, especially as they are combined to form hybrid courses. The purpose of this study was to compare two hybrid physiology sections in which one section was offered mostly in-class (85% in-class), and the other section was offered mostly online (85% online). The two sections in 2 yr (year 1 and year 2) were compared in terms of knowledge of physiology measured in exam scores and pretest-posttest improvement, and in measures of student satisfaction with teaching. In year 1, there were some differences on individual exam scores between the two sections, but no significant differences in mean exam scores or in pretest-posttest improvements. However, in terms of student satisfaction, the mostly in-class students in year 1 rated the instructor significantly higher than did the mostly online students. Comparisons between in-class and online students in the year 2 cohort yielded data that showed that mean exam scores were not statistically different, but pre-post changes were significantly greater in the mostly online section; student satisfaction among mostly online students also improved significantly. Education researchers must investigate effective combinations of in-class and online methods for student learning outcomes, while maintaining the flexibility and convenience that online methods provide.

Use of the seven principles of effective teaching to design and deliver an interactive hybrid nursing research course

AIM

This study examined how applying the seven principles of effective teaching to designing and delivering an undergraduate nursing research course in a hybrid format affected course quality.

BACKGROUND

Existing research does not adequately describe how the design and delivery processes of hybrid courses affect course outcomes or how these processes address informatics learning resources and students' varying levels of computer skills.

METHOD

A hybrid nursing research course was designed and delivered to 105 nursing students using Blackboard and Tegrity systems. Using a mixed-methods approach, students' satisfaction with the course was measured and achievement was compared with those of a comparable previous cohort that had taken the same course in the traditional format.

RESULTS

Students reported high satisfaction with the course and obtained significantly higher scores than students in the previous semester. Concerns included working in groups and the additional workload associated with the online component. CONCLUSION Applying the seven principles of effective teaching in design and delivery can improve the quality of hybrid courses.

It's not my fault: understanding nursing students' causal attributions in Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology is a difficult subject matter for many nursing students. This course is also critical for safe clinical practice. However, little research has explored what variables may influence nursing students' success in this course. This study is the first in a forthcoming series that seeks to better understand how to facilitate student success in Pathophysiology. In this study, students' causal attributions for successes and failures were explored as these attributions greatly influence future academic motivation and behavior. Students were asked to respond to two open-ended questions in order to better understand what causal attributions students were making for their successes and failures in Pathophysiology. Seventy-five Bachelor of Science in Nursing students who were enrolled in Pathophysiology returned their responses (92.6% response rate). Content analysis was utilized to determine whether students were making internal or external causal attributions for their successes and failures. Additionally, responses were evaluated in order to identify common themes shared by respondents. The majority of respondents (84%) attributed their academic successes in Pathophysiology in part to internal causes, and the majority of respondents (68%) attributed their academic failures, in part, to external causes. In this study the majority of students attributed their successes to controllable, unstable causes-primarily effort. Research indicates that attributing success to effort may reflect that students' confidence in their abilities is suffering, and that attributing failures to external causes, such as task difficulty, are also detrimental to performance and learning (Siegle et al., 2009). The results of this study are further presented and discussed.

Casualisation of the teaching workforce: implications for nursing education

Internationally, nursing faculty shortages have been reported and there is a potential for them to worsen into the next decade as existing faculty age. To, in part, address this issue, across disciplines there is clearly an international trend towards the increasing casualisation of the higher education workforce. Despite the potential impact of this two-tiered workforce structure, there has been limited examination of the discipline specific issues related to the employment of a growing number of sessional nursing staff. This paper provides a critical review of the literature related to the employment of sessional teachers in higher education. The paper advances the discourse around the role and implications of employing sessional teachers in undergraduate nursing schools. Recommendations for supporting sessional staff and further research are presented.

Nursing students' perception of a Web-based intervention to support learning

Tailoring information to the needs of the learner is an important strategy in contemporary education settings. Web-based learning support, informed by multimedia theory, comprising interactive quizzes, glossaries with audio, short narrated Power Point(R) presentations, animations and digitised video clips were introduced in a first year Bachelor of Nursing biological sciences subject at a university in metropolitan Sydney. All students enrolled in this unit were invited to obtain access to the site and the number of hits to the site was recorded using the student tracking facility available on WebCT, an online course delivery tool adopted widely by many educational institutions and used in this study. Eighty-five percent of students enrolled in the subject accessed the learning support site. Students' perception of the value of a learning support site was assessed using a web-based survey. The survey was completed by 123 participants, representing a response rate of 22%. Three themes emerged from the qualitative data concerning nursing students' perception of the web-based activities: 'enhances my learning', 'study at my own pace', and 'about the activities: what I really liked/disliked'. Web-based interventions, supplementing a traditionally presented nursing science course were perceived by students to be beneficial in both learning and language development. Although students value interactive, multimedia learning they were not ready to completely abandon traditional modes of learning including face-to-face lectures. The findings of this study contribute to an understanding of how web-based resources can be best used to support students' learning in bioscience.

Development of a nasogastric tube insertion simulator: a collaborative interdisciplinary effort

The nursing faculty shortage has created the need for more innovative and effective ways to better stimulate nursing students. Simulation technology is one way to increase the effectiveness of teaching faculty. In this article, a collaborative project between the College of Nursing and College of Engineering at the University of South Florida to develop and evaluate a PC-based software simulator based on videogame technologies for nursing skill acquisition is discussed. A software simulator for teaching and assessing mastery of the procedure for nasogastric tube insertion is described. The purpose of the simulator is to complement the standard training of nasogastric tube insertion that uses static mannequins and instruction/assessment by nursing instructors. The simulator was used in a fundamentals of nursing class at the University of South Florida, with 75 students enrolled. Evaluation showed that the simulator significantly increased the confidence of the students in their ability to perform nasogastric tube insertion.

Evaluation of a web-based graduate continuing nursing education program in Japan: A randomized controlled trial

Web-based learning provides educational opportunities for students who are independent and self-directed. While the complexities of educational outcomes of web-based learning have not yet been completely documented, further studies are required using rigorous research design techniques to study the outcomes of web-based learning as compared to traditional face-to-face learning. The purposes of this study were to: (1) assess the learner outcomes of web-based learning as compared to face-to-face learning group, and (2) explore methods that maximize the use of web-based learning for continuing nursing education. A randomized controlled trial of web-based learning in comparison to face-to-face lectures for registered nurses or midwives was conducted. One hundred and one nurses and midwives were eligible to participate and 93 were randomized, 45 for the web-based learning and 48 for the face-to face group. Thirty-seven (82.2%) completed the web-based learning and 33 (68.8%) the face-to-face program. There was no difference in the post-test scores between the web-based learning group (mean=76.2) and the face-to-face learning group (mean=79.4) (t=0.66, df=68, p=0.51). There were three distinct advantages to the web-based group, even though both group demonstrated the same learning outcomes. First the dropout rate was lower in the web-based program. Second the flexibility of web-based learning was reported by several participants. Finally, web-based learning was attractive to an affordable for a wide age range of the nurses.

Development of an online university-based Physical Activity and Obesity education program

PURPOSE

The purpose of this article is to describe the development and implementation of an undergraduate university core course titled, Public Health Issues in Physical Activity and Obesity (KIN1304) at a diverse, urban university.

METHODS

The course was designed to provide the scientific and public health information on obesity with a goal of prevention. Whereas the course was administered to college students, there are several applications within diabetes education where its content may be useful.

RESULTS

The course is entirely Internet based (by means of WebCT Vista) and is a university core requirement for all undergraduate degree programs on campus. Development of such a course provides an opportunity to reach a large portion of the undergraduate population.

CONCLUSION

Development of the Internet-based course, Public Health Issues in Physical Activity and Obesity (KIN1304) may be useful for educating a wide variety of people regarding the risks and prevention associated with obesity and diabetes.

Evidence-based strategies of graduate students to achieve success in a hybrid Web-based course

Web-based hybrid courses are gaining in popularity in institutions of higher learning for both undergraduate and graduate nursing education. The purpose of this study was to examine how predictive the five self-regulatory resource management strategies of time management, study environment, effort regulation, help seeking, and peer learning are in determining whether a student will be successful academically within a hybrid learning environment. The sample consisted of 38 graduate nursing students enrolled in two sections--one hybrid and the other lecture--of a health care economics course at a major, public, urban, 4-year university. The results of the study revealed that students in the hybrid section had significantly higher end-of-course grades and a significantly higher favorable rating (affective behavior) of their method of instruction. Of the five resource management strategies examined, only help seeking showed a significant correlation with end-of-course grades in both sections.