The effect of teaching methods used as experienced and perceived by student nurses at a nursing college in the Western Cape province

Date
2011-12
Authors
Furst, Laetitia Nicole
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The 21st century teaching environment is unique in its diversity, and challenges academic staff to create a teaching environment that is conducive to all current learners. Various teaching methods are available and affordable, but technology remains an essential investment for the future of higher education institutions. The goal of the study was to evaluate the perceptions of student nurses regarding the effectiveness of the teaching methods which they experienced at a nursing college in the Western Cape Province. The objectives included an evaluation of the effectiveness of teaching methods as perceived and experienced by students of: - The traditional (green/whiteboard) lecture - Group activity - Self-activity - The use of technology such as PowerPoint presentations and video clips. An explorative descriptive research design was applied with a quantitative approach. The target population (N=1238) consisted of nursing students following the programme leading to registration as a professional nurse. Stratified random sampling was used to select the sample of participants (n=267). Data was collected personally by the researcher with a self-administered questionnaire which consisted of predominantly closed questions. Ethics approval to conduct this study was obtained from Stellenbosch University including permission from all other relevant parties. Reliability and validity of the study were assured through a pilot study, consultation with experts in nursing, education and statistics. The reliability of the questions were tested using the Cronbach alpha coefficient test which varied between .89 and .94. The data was analysed with the support of a statistician and was expressed as frequencies in tables and histograms. Descriptive statistics and post-hoc analyses including tests for statistical associations were performed. Results include a significant difference in generation X participants and the green/whiteboard teaching methods (Spearman p-value = 0.02) and their preference of the traditional lecture as a teaching method (Spearman p-value = <0.01). The perceived effectiveness of the teaching methods on student performance varied between very helpful and not helpful. Only (n = 49/19%) of participants experienced the traditional lecture as being very helpful on their general academic performance, in comparison to the effect of group work (n = 69/26%) and self-activity (n = 102/39%). Furthermore, no significant results were obtained between the participants and the perceived effect of the teaching methods. Open-ended questions showed that participants regarded the teaching strategies as boring and ancient and that much of the unhappiness expressed stems from the difference in the needs of millennials and the lack of change and obstinacy existing amongst academics. Recommendations include an increase in the use of technology, a blended approach to teaching, the re-training of academic staff, measures in counteracting a boring classroom environment, orientation for neophyte academics and students, workload perception of students and class size. In conclusion should recommendations be implemented a complete transformation of the college under study will result. It may force the education institution to move out of complacency, to a more vigorous and dynamic education environment that enables them to emerge as an Higher Education Institution (HEI) of good standing.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die een-en-twintigste-eeuse onderwysomgewing is uniek wat betref diversiteit en daag akademiese personeel uit om teenswoordig ’n onderwysomgewing te skep wat bevorderlik is vir alle leerders. Verskeie onderwysmetodes is beskikbaar en bekostigbaar, maar tegnologie bly ’n noodsaaklike belegging vir die toekoms van hoër onderwysinstansies. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die effektiwiteit van die gebruik van onderwysmetodes wat waargeneem en ondervind word deur studentverpleegkundiges by ’n spesifieke Verpleegkollege in die Wes-Kaap, te evalueer. Die doelwitte sluit in die evaluering aangaande die effektiwiteit soos waargeneem en ondervind deur studente van die volgende onderwysmetodes: - Die tradisionele groen/witbord lesing - Groepaktiwiteit - Selfaktiwiteit - Die gebruik van tegnologie soos PowerPoint-aanbiedings en video-insetsels. ’n Ondersoekende, beskrywende navorsingsontwerp met ’n kwantitatiewe benadering is toegepas. Die teikengroep is (n=1238) wat uit verpleegstudente bestaan wat die program vir die van ’n geregistreerde professionele verpleegster volg. ’n Gestratifieerde ewekansige steekproef is gebruik om die deelnemers (n=267) te selekteer. Data is self deur die navorser ingesamel deur gebruik te maak van ’n selfgeadministreerde vraelys wat hoofsaklik uit geslote vrae bestaan het. Etiese goedkeuring om die studie na te vors, is verkry van die Universtiteit van Stellenbosch, asook die van al die betrokke partye. Betroubaarheid en geldigheid van die studie is verseker deur ’n loodsondersoek, sowel as raadpleging met deskundiges op die gebied van Verpleging, Opvoedkunde en Statistiek. Die betroubaaarheid van die vrae is getoets deur gebruik te maak van die Cronbach-alpha koëffisiënt toets wat tussen .89 en .94 gevarieer het. Die data is geanaliseer met die ondersteuning van ’n statistikus en word voorgestel as frekwensies in tabelle en histogramme. Beskrywende statistieke en post-hoc analises, insluitende toetse vir statistiese assossiasies, is uitgevoer. Resultate sluit in ’n beduidende verskil in generasie x-deelnemers en die groen- of witbord onderwysmetodes (Spearman p-waarde = 0.02) en hul voorkeur vir die tradisionele lesing as ’n onderrigmetode (Spearman p-aarde >0.01). Die effektiwiteit van die onderwysmetodes op studenteprestasies wat waargeneem is, varieer tussen baie waardevol en van geen waarde nie. Slegs (n=49/19%) van die deelnemers het die tradisionele lesing as baie waardevol vir hul algemene akademiese prestasie ervaar, in vergelyking met die effek van groepwerk (n=69/26%) en self-aktiwiteit (n=102/39%). Vervolgens, is geen beduidende resultate verkry tussen die deelnemers en die effek van die onderrigmetodes wat waargeneem is nie. Ope vrae bewys dat deelnemers die onderwysstrategieë as vervelig en verouderd beskou en dat baie van die ongelukkigheid wat deurgevoer is, voortspruit uit die verskil in die behoeftes van die milleniums en die gebrek aan geneentheid, asook halsstarrigheid by akademici om te verander. Aanbevelings sluit in ’n toename in die gebruik van tegnologie, ’n saamgestelde benadering tot onderrig, die heropleiding van akademiese personeel, maatstawwe om ’n vervelige klaskameratmosfeer teen te werk, oriëntering vir neofiet akademici en studente se persepsie van werklading en klasgrootte. Ten slotte, indien aanbevelings geïmplementeer word, sal ’n volslae transformasie van die kollege onder die soeklig, plaasvind. Dit mag die opvoedkundige instansie forseer om te beweeg vanuit ’n toestand van gemaksugtigheid na ’n meer ondernemende en dinamiese onderrigomgewing wat in staat sal wees om as ’n Hoër Onderwysinstansie van formaat te funksioneer.
Description
Thesis (MCur)--Stellenbosch University, 2011.
Keywords
Nursing -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Western Cape, College teaching -- Evaluation, Dissertations -- Nursing, Theses -- Nursing
Citation