Effects of Blended Learning on Nursing Students Learning Outcomes

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1 , pp Effects of Blended Learning on Nursing Students Learning Outcomes Hye-Kyung Oh 1 1 Dept. of Nursing, Division of Health-Nursing, Daegu University 33 Seongdang-ro 50-gil, Namgu, Daegu, , Republic of Korea [email protected] Abstract. The present study was performed to understand the effects of curriculum alteration on learning outcomes of nursing students, through application of blended learning, in Fundamentals of Nursing classes. This was undertaken to provide basic data necessary to preparation of various applications and uses of blended learning in nursing education. Participants were 67 sophomore students in a nursing faculty. Curriculum management with application of blended learning in Fundamentals of Nursing improved learning outcomes more than that without application (F = 7.80, p =.006). Keywords: Blended Learning, Learning Outcomes 1 Introduction Blended learning has been vigorously introduced to workforce education, and is partially used in elementary and middle schools. It also requires active consideration as a teaching and learning strategy in university education, to enhance learners autonomy and to improve academic achievement. Specifically, since university classes are given on a weekly basis, classes impact may be maximized across a semester by an appropriate combination of online and off line classes from week to week. Blended learning s application to university may result in the following educational effects: increased communication between professors and students, and among students, increased variety of channels of knowledge expression, improved self-regulated learning ability via self-directed online activity, and provision of the opportunity to consider the online-offline connection [1]. On provision of blended learning in classes, it was found that students actively undertook learning activities that were related to the goal of the class; that is, they engaged in self-directed learning. For example, students assisted one another in grasping educational content, and then applied, reviewed and practiced content in face-to-face class and using content provided on the internet homepage [2]. The present study therefore aimed to illuminate the effects of curriculum alteration through the application of blended learning to Fundamentals of Nursing, by examining nursing students learning outcomes, and in order to provide basic data requisite to preparation of measures facilitating various applications of blended learning in nursing education. ISSN: ASTL Copyright 2015 SERSC

2 2 Study Methods 2.1 Study Design The present study uses a non-equivalent control pre-post test design to understand the effect of curriculum management, via application of blended learning to Fundamentals of Nursing, on nursing students learning outcomes. 2.2 Participants Participants were 34 students attending A university, and 33 students attending B university. A and B universities curricula are similar. All participants were attending blended-learning Fundamentals of Nursing classes, understood the study s goal, and participated voluntarily. 2.3 Data Collection A structured questionnaire was distributed and collected before and after curriculum alteration with blended learning. Prior to the questionnaire s distribution, participants were notified of confidentiality, voluntariness of participation, the study s goal, and estimated time to answer. Data were collected from September 2013 to December Study Tool Learning outcome Learning outcomes are abilities acquired through the curriculum both in and outside class [3], which are measured by the regular curriculum [4]. In the present study, the Nursing Department Learning Outcomes Committee in A university analyzed two learning outcomes related to curriculum management of Fundamentals of Nursing. Analysis was facilitated by workshops and expert counseling, which addressed the subject s learning goals and outcomes, achievement levels, and performance criteria. These items reflected the learning outcomes of nursing programs proposed by the Korea Accreditation Board of Nursing Education. In the present study, learning outcomes were measured via the necessity and current achievement of two learning outcomes (A and B) in the Fundamentals of Nursing class. Measurements used a five-point scale; a higher score indicated a greater necessity and a higher achievement level of the learning outcome. Detailed learning outcomes are as follows: Copyright 2015 SERSC 261

3 Learning outcome A: Nursing skills based on broad cultural and domain knowledge that are systematically applied to working practice. Learning outcome B: Essential nursing skills that are selected and practiced depending on the nursing situation. 2.5 Data Analysis Collected data were analyzed using SPSS Participant characteristics were analyzed in absolute and percentage terms. Differences in participants learning outcomes before and after implementation of blended learning were examined using t- tests and a one-way ANOVA. 3 Results 3.1 Participant Characteristics Participants general characteristics are presented in Table 1. Table 1. Participant characteristics (N = 34) Frequency (individuals) Percent (N = 67) (N = 33) Frequency (individuals) Percent 18 years years years Age 21 years years years Personality 44 years Very positive Positive Neutral Negative Very negative Copyright 2015 SERSC

4 3.2 Effects of Blended Learning Differences in learning outcomes between the experimental, which experienced blended learning, and the control, which did not, are presented in Table 2. In order to examine changes within the experimental and control s, a paired t-test was performed. Results showed that post-measurement values were statistically significantly greater both in the experimental (t = -7.99, p =.000) and the control (t = -4.65, p =.000) compared to pre-measurement values. Regarding subordinate concepts of learning outcomes, a significant difference was found in learning outcome B s achievement, but not its necessity, between the two s (F = 7.80, p =.006). Table 2. Comparison of learning outcomes Variable Group Mean Pre SD Post t(p) F(p) F(p) F(p) Total learning outcome (.091) (.066) Necessity A (.026) (.131) (.143) 0.02 (.888) 1.72 (.192) Necessity B (.023) (.053) (.292) (.679) Achievement A (.798) (.855) (.102) Achievement B (.006) (.132) Copyright 2015 SERSC 263

5 3.2 Learning Outcomes Depending on General Characteristics To examine differences in learning outcomes depending on general characteristics, t- tests and a one-way ANOVA were performed; results are presented in Table 3. The control showed a statistically significant difference in outcomes depending on personality (F = 3.42, p <.05). Mean learning outcome scores in the control, separated by general characteristics, were for Very positive, for Positive, for Neutral, for Negative, and 0.00 for Very negative. A post-hoc test was performed to examine significant differences between s; significant differences were found between Positive compared to Neutral and Negative, respectively. Table 3. Learning outcomes depending on general characteristics (N = 34) (N = 33) M SD F(t) Posthoc M SD F(t) Post -hoc Age Very Positive (a) Personality *p <.05 Positive (b) Neutral (c) Negative (d) Very negative (e) * c,d < b References 1. Lim, J. H. Strategy for qualitative improvement of college education: Blended Learning. Proceedings of the Third International e-learning Workshop. Korean University Alliance for Cyber Education (2004) 2. Koo, Y. M. A study on self-directed learning in blended learning in higher education - Possibilities of existential and social self-directed learning. J. of Educ. Technology. 22(1), (2006) 3. Peon, K. H., & Song, D. J. A case study on the continuous quality improvement for leadership outcomes education in Yeungnam university. Engineering Educ. Research. 12(1), (2009) 4. Kim, C. S. A study of strategic approaches for course and program outcomes assessment. Engineering Educ. Research. 10(2), (2007) 5. Korean Accreditation Board of Nursing Education. A manual of Korean accreditation board of nursing education in the second half of 2014, Copyright 2015 SERSC