Nursing students' preferences in the use of computer assisted learning

One hundred and ten student nurses in the second year of a 3-year diploma program were surveyed following their use of computer assisted learning (CAL) programs. The questionnaire was designed to elicit responses concerning the preferred number of users per terminal, the level of supervision (supervised/unsupervised) and their general affective response to this type of learning. The results showed that the majority (56.4%) of students preferred to work in a group (a group constituted no more than three students per terminal). Whereas 31.8% preferred to work through the program alone, just over 50% would rather be supervised while running the program, and 26.4% expressed a preference for no supervision. There was no relationship found between program content and running the program alone or with others. However, in 10% of the sample there was a positive relationship found between the need for supervision and program content. The reasons given for these preferences and the advantages and disadvantages of CAL, as perceived by the students, are also discussed.