Student Perspectives: Discussion Boards as Learning Strategies in Online Accelerated Nursing Courses.

Area of Science:

• Online learning strategies in nursing education
• Student engagement in virtual academic environments

Background:

• Discussion boards are common in online nursing courses, but student perspectives require further exploration.
• Understanding student preferences is crucial for optimizing online learning strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate student perspectives and preferences regarding discussion boards as a learning strategy.
• Focus on online accelerated nursing courses, specifically RN-to-BSN and MSN-NE programs.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-method pilot study was conducted.
• Data collected from 27 RN-to-BSN students and 37 MSN-NE students.
• Examined perceptions and preferences for discussion board utilization.

Main Results:

• Overall positive student perceptions of discussion boards as a learning tool.
• RN-to-BSN students favored discussion summaries over direct faculty involvement.
• MSN-NE students preferred faculty participation but also found summaries beneficial.

Conclusions:

• Well-structured online discussions enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.
• Faculty should integrate active participation with discussion summaries for effective online pedagogy.
• The optimal level of faculty engagement may vary with course content complexity.