Perceptions of realism in digital scenarios: A mixed methods descriptive study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Digital Learning Technologies
• Pedagogy

Background:

• Enquiry-based learning is a key pedagogical approach in international nurse education.
• Digital technologies are increasingly used to simulate real-world scenarios for critical enquiry.
• Authenticity is crucial for effective learning within these simulated environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a stakeholder group to evaluate the authenticity of digital media scenarios in nursing education.
• To explore perceptions of authenticity in educational scenarios presented through various digital formats.
• To enhance the co-production of authentic digital teaching resources.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods descriptive study was employed.
• An adapted authenticity scale was used to rate four digital scenarios.
• Thematic analysis of workshop discussions with stakeholders, including nursing students, service users, and family caregivers, was conducted.

Main Results:

• Digital audio scenarios scored lower on authenticity compared to visual media.
• Still photobook-style images were perceived as less authentic than dramatic films featuring professional actors.
• Stakeholder perceptions highlighted variations in authenticity across different digital media formats.

Conclusions:

• The careful selection of digital media is essential, considering not only educational needs but also social, cultural norms, and digital literacy.
• Co-productively creating digital scenarios can lead to teaching resources with improved authenticity and real-world relevance.
• Visual and dynamic digital formats may offer greater authenticity in enquiry-based nursing education.