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The Future of Nursing Education in the Web 2.0 Environment

Thursday, 16 July 2009: 8:30 AM

Jeanne Sewell, MSN
Graduate Nursing, Georgia College & State University, Milledgeville, GA
Flor A. Culpa-Bondal, PhD, RN
Undergraduate Nursing Department, Georgia College and State University, Milledgeville, GA
Martha Colvin, PhD, RN
Undergraduate Nursing, Georgia College and State University, Milledgeville, GA

Learning Objective 1: Discuss the challenges and opportunities for the use of web 2.0 tools in the teaching/learning process.

Learning Objective 2: Compare and contrast common web 2.0 tools used for personal use and nursing education.

Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to explore the use of Web 2.0 tools in nursing education.  There is limited evidence in the literature to validate the effectiveness and efficiency of these tools in enhancing teaching and learning. The study explored the following questions:
1.      What Web 2.0 tools do nursing students use for personal use?
2.      What Web 2.0 tools do nursing students use in nursing education?
3.      How do nursing students utilize Web 2.0 tools for personal use?
4.      How do nursing students utilize Web 2.0 tools in nursing education?
Methods:

After receiving approval from the institutional review board (IRB) a pilot study was conducted using the online survey site, Zoomerang™. The researchers received permission from EDUCAUSE to modify and adapt the EDUCAUSE Students and Information Technology in Higher Education: 2007 Survey Questionnaire (EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research, 2007). Pre-nursing and nursing students were invited to participate. Of the 179 students, 64 (36%) participated.  Survey results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. 

Results: Ninety-eight percent reported the use of personal e-mail, social networking sites (89%), and instant messaging (68%).  Fifty-seven percent ranked e-mail as the most used in their education and personal lives.  Sixty-eight percent preferred taking courses that use a moderate level of Web 2.0 tools; 3% preferred taking courses with extensive use of web 2.0 tools.   Twelve percent preferred taking courses that do not use Web 2.0 tools.
Conclusion: The study results provide a bird’s eye view about the use of Web 2.0 tools by nursing students.  The study results are limited to the small number of students who participated.  The pilot study survey requires some modifications prior to final implementation.
References
 EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research. (2007). Students and information technology in higher education: 2007 survey questionnaire.   Retrieved November 25, 2008, from http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/si/esi07d.pdf

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