Blended learning: Assessing nursing students' perspectives | JoVE Visualize

Area of Science:

Nursing Education
Higher Education Pedagogy
Digital Learning Strategies

Background:

Blended learning, combining face-to-face and online instruction, has surged in popularity, particularly accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The rapid adoption of blended learning models often occurs without thorough evaluation of their effectiveness or student reception.
Assessing student perceptions is crucial for refining blended learning approaches in academic settings.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the perceptions of third-year university nursing students regarding a blended learning approach implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To identify specific aspects of the blended learning experience that were well-received or presented challenges for nursing students.

Main Methods:

A pre- and post-evaluation study design was employed with 150 third-year nursing students in South Africa.
Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire, the Student Perceptions of Blended Learning scale.
Statistical analyses, including Chi-squared and Mann-Whitney U tests, were used to compare pre- and post-implementation perceptions.

Main Results:

A slight increase in preference for blended learning was observed post-implementation (10.1%), though not statistically significant (p=0.092).
Ease of use was rated similarly before and after implementation, with no significant changes noted.
Students rated the content of the blended learning modules more favorably than the process, with no significant differences observed between pre- and post-implementation ratings for either.

Conclusions:

Nursing students reported generally positive perceptions of the blended learning model.
Challenges were identified concerning the online learning component, specifically regarding time management and module comprehension.
The study's findings offer valuable insights for higher education institutions to enhance online management systems and for nurse educators to develop more effective module resources tailored to student needs.