Nursing Students' Use of Digital Resources for Self-Directed Learning in Bioscience.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Bioscience Pedagogy
• Digital Learning Technologies

Background:

• First-year nursing students frequently encounter challenges in mastering bioscience subjects.
• A growing number of students seek supplementary digital resources to aid their understanding.
• While digital resources are preferred for flexibility (e.g., educational videos), their pedagogical effectiveness in enhancing learning remains a subject of critical discussion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how digital resources can facilitate self-directed learning in bioscience for first-year nursing students.
• To explore student engagement with digital resources, including online platforms with videos, interactive exercises, personalized feedback, and internet searches, outside of structured academic settings.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative research approach was utilized, involving semi-structured individual interviews.
• Reflexive thematic analysis, guided by Braun and Clarke's methodology, was employed for data analysis.
• NVivo software was used for data organization, coding, and theme identification, adhering to COREQ reporting guidelines.

Main Results:

• Two primary themes emerged from the analysis: 'Digital resources provide an overview over bioscience' and 'Motivational issues - deep learning or passing the exam'.
• Students reported that digital resources helped them gain a broader understanding of bioscience topics.
• Motivation emerged as a key factor, influencing whether students aimed for in-depth learning or focused on exam completion.

Conclusions:

• Digital resources can effectively support self-directed learning by empowering students to select relevant content.
• These resources provide students with a greater sense of autonomy and control over their learning process in bioscience.
• The findings underscore the potential of digital tools to enhance self-directed learning in health professional education, promoting lifelong learning essential for patient care.