Related Experiment Videos
Piloting use of computerized practice tests.
1College of Nursing, Seton Hall University, 400 South Orange Ave, South Orange, NJ 07079-2693, USA. rossigma@shu.edu
Computers in Nursing
|October 2, 2001
Summary
Computerized practice tests in nursing pharmacology courses showed potential benefits. Students enjoyed the digital format and immediate feedback, reporting increased confidence for licensure exams, though course exam scores showed no significant improvement.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Education
- Educational Technology
- Pharmacology Education
Background:
- Undergraduate nursing programs increasingly integrate technology into curriculum delivery.
- Assessing student preparedness for high-stakes examinations is crucial in nursing education.
- Traditional assessment methods may not fully reflect digital competency required for modern healthcare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To pilot computerized practice tests for an undergraduate nursing pathopharmacology course.
- To evaluate student experiences and perceptions of using digital practice tests.
- To determine the impact of computerized practice tests on course examination performance.
Main Methods:
- Implementation of two computer-administered practice tests using LXR-Test 5.1 software.
- Enrollment of 28 undergraduate nursing students in the pilot study.
- Collection of questionnaire data on student experiences and perceptions.
- Comparison of course examination scores between students who used practice tests and those who did not.
Main Results:
- Students who utilized computerized practice tests reported enjoyment and appreciated immediate scoring and feedback.
- A trend towards higher group mean course examination scores was observed for students using practice tests, but differences were not statistically significant (P = 0.29; P = 0.07).
- Students felt more prepared for computerized licensure examinations after the experience, though opinions on readiness for future computer-based course exams were mixed.
Conclusions:
- Computerized practice tests are a well-received educational tool in nursing pharmacology, enhancing student engagement and perceived readiness for licensure exams.
- While not statistically significant in this pilot, computerized practice tests may offer a valuable supplementary resource for improving exam performance.
- Further research is warranted to optimize the integration of digital assessment tools in nursing education to bridge the gap between course performance and licensure examination readiness.