e-Learning readiness amongst nursing students at the Durban University of Technology

• Published in: Health SA = SA Gesondheid Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 300 - 306
• Main Authors: Coopasami, Marilynne, Knight, Stephen, Pete, Marí
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Elsevier B.V 01-12-2017; AOSIS; AOSIS (Pty) Ltd; AOSIS Publishing on behalf of University of Johannesburg
• Subjects: Blended learning; Computer literacy; Equipment readiness; Health Care Sciences & Services; Health Policy & Services; Higher education; Multimedia; Nursing; Online instruction; Psychological readiness; Students; Teaching methods; Technological readiness; Virtual private networks; Hong Kong; Bangladesh; Psychological readiness; Technological readiness; Equipment readiness
• ISSN: 1025-9848; 2071-9736; 2071-9736
• DOI: 10.1016/j.hsag.2017.04.003

e-Learning and other innovative open learning multimedia modalities of delivering education are being introduced to enhance learning opportunities and facilitate student access to and success in education. This article reports on a study that assessed students' readiness to make the shift from traditional learning to the technological culture of e-Learning at a university in Durban. A quasi-experimental study design was employed to assess such readiness in first year nursing students before and after an appropriate educational intervention. A modified Chapnick Readiness Score was used to measure their psychological, equipment and technological readiness for the change in learning method. It was found that, while students' psychological readiness for e-Learning was high, they lacked technological and equipment readiness. Although e-Learning could be used in nursing education, technological and equipment readiness require attention before it can be implemented effectively in this institution. Fortunately, these technical aspects are easier to resolve than improving psychological readiness.