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Preferred Methods of Learning for Nursing Students in an On-Line Degree Program
Debra Hampton1, Patricia F Pearce2, Debra K Moser3
1Academic Coordinator, Population and Organizational Systems and MSN to DNP Programs and Assistant Professor at the University of Kentucky College of Nursing, KY..
Online nursing students have diverse generational preferences for teaching methods. Videos, narrated PowerPoints, and case studies were most effective, while group projects were least preferred. Understanding these differences optimizes online learning experiences.
Area of Science:
- Online Education
- Nursing Education
- Pedagogy
Background:
- Online courses are effective but preferred teaching strategies are under-researched.
- Effective online course delivery requires diverse methods for student-content-technology interaction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify online nursing student preferences for teaching/learning methods.
- To analyze generational differences in these preferences.
- To determine the most engaging and effective online teaching strategies.
Main Methods:
- Survey administered to 944 nursing students across two accredited online programs.
- 217 students (23% response rate) completed the survey.
- Participants categorized into Baby Boomer, Generation X, and Millennial cohorts.
Main Results:
- Preferred methods: videos/narrated PowerPoints, synchronous sessions, readings, email dialog.
- Most engaging/effective: videos/narrated PowerPoints, case studies.
- Least preferred/engaging: group projects; least effective: wikis.
- Generational differences observed in discussion board, simulation, and online game preferences.
Conclusions:
- Online nursing education must incorporate varied synchronous and asynchronous, interactive and passive methods.
- Distinct student preferences and generational differences necessitate tailored online teaching strategies.
- Faculty should adapt methodologies to cater to diverse student needs for enhanced engagement and learning outcomes.
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