[Collaborative learning through the Internet--an empirical study in nursing education]

The increasing use of e-mail and other electronic means of communication with their associated informality, interactivity and speed provide an ideal vehicle for students from different Schools of Nursing to work together. The Internet services can provide an open education environment. This paper will document the processes that took place in one collaborative exercise where two student groups worked together to improve care planning skills with the added bonus of improving their confidence and abilities as communicators. From Finland thirteen psychiatric nurse students were involved in the exercise and from Wales there was a group of six students all of whom were Registered General Nurses following the Mental Health Branch Program. All the interaction between students and teachers was arranged by e-mail. There are a range of educational objectives that were achieved these include use of e-mail, improvement in care planning technique, developing abilities to constructively criticise the work of others, to learn from and share in the experience of others.