Nursing students' perceptions of online learning and its impact on knowledge level

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Online Learning
• Pedagogical Strategies

Background:

• Online learning in nursing education positively impacts knowledge, skills, and confidence.
• Benefits of online learning can be influenced by the quality of pedagogical materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of online tutorials versus traditional face-to-face tutorials on nursing students' knowledge.
• To explore student perspectives on their experience with online tutorials.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods experiential design comparing two cohorts of nursing students.
• Assessed knowledge levels through examination results and gathered qualitative data via interviews.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in knowledge levels were observed between online and face-to-face tutorial groups.
• Student interviews revealed themes of decreased motivation, limited teamwork, missed learning opportunities, and reduced interaction.

Conclusions:

• Online tutorials offer a feasible approach in nursing education.
• Potential drawbacks include compromised motivation, teamwork, and discussion quality due to reduced social interaction.