Learning Anytime, Anywhere:

The challenges of implementing blended learning in a nursing curriculum

In the beginning…

2009:

Moodle +

New Bachelor of Nursing curriculum

The ‘new’ Bachelor of Nursing curriculum:

Class Independent (Moodle)

Year 1: 60 hours 90 hoursYear 2: 40 hours 110 hoursYear 3: 20 hours 130 hours

The survey

The results

Frequency of student access of Moodle pages

According to the logs:• BN503: 91% • BN505: 40%• BN501: 21%

Key result #1

Online activities

Key result #2

More than 50% of students ‘seldom’ or ‘never’ took part in online activities such as quizzes and discussion forums.

Layout of Moodle

Key result #3

30% of students felt that lack of a standardisation was a problem

45% felt that finding resources on Moodle was ‘seldom’ or ‘never’ stress free

Lecturer feedback

Key result #4

80% of staff saw Moodle’s key function as that of ‘repository’

72% of staff seldom or never participated in dialogue (forums, chat)

53% of staff did not create session plans for online learning

Next steps

Changes to design and layout of Moodle

Change# 1

Use of a wider range of interactive Moodle functions

Change# 2

Use the random glossary block to have a changing display of facts

Change# 2

Use of a wider range of interactive Moodle functions

Use the quiz results function to display ‘best scores’

Change# 2

Use of a wider range of interactive Moodle functions

Create a searchable site index using a glossary

Overt assessment of online learning components

Change# 3

Development of session plans with identified learning outcomes and time

allocations for online learning components

Change# 4

Development of self-directed learning support programme

Change# 3

Where are we now?I enjoyed SDL. I found online group work beneficial i.e. comparing ideas and interpretations.

I do enjoy the SDL’s this year, they are well thought out and informative.

I enjoyed the independent learning and the quizzes to test my knowledge.

The SDL really suits me. I like to be able to work through the material in my own time and place

Having marks allocated to the independent learning gives me a reason for doing it.

I really like the way Moodle is set out

Posting comments to the forums has really helped me improve my communication skills

I don’t like it when the online learning isn’t included in the assessment.

Key recommendations• Develop a Moodle style guide and stick with it

• Know why you are using online learning

• Embed it into the curriculum and the assessment

• Recognise that the requirements and potential of face-to-face and online environments are different

• Help students to come to terms with the requirements

If you build it…

…will they come?

Moodle logs show that 100% of students

actively enrolled at the 700-level access Moodle on a regular /daily

basis.

ReferencesAxmann, M (2007) Project student rescue: Online learning facilitation in higher education to improve retention rates for students. In E. McKay (Ed.), Enhancing learning through human computer interaction (pp.43-56). IDEA Group: Hershey Blin, F. & Munro, M. (2008). Why hasn’t technology disrupted academics’ teaching practices? Understanding resistance to change through the lens of activity theory. Computers & Education 50 (2), (pp.475-490) Dougiamas, M. (n.d.). Pedagogy. Retrieved November 24, 2009, from Moodle.org: www.moodle.org Gilbert, C. (2009). The annual report of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s services and skills 2008/09. Ofsted: London Dougiamas, M. (2002). Interpretive analysis of an internet-based course. Research and Development in Higher Education: Quality Conversations. Perth: HERDSA. Means, B., Toyama, Y., Murphy, R., Bakia, M., & Jones, K. (2009). Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning: A Meta-Analysis and Review of Online Learning Studies. Washington: U.S. Department of Education. Rice, W. (2010). Moodle 1.9 Teaching Techniques. Birmingham: Packt. Rogers, Carl R. (1986). Carl Rogers on the Development of the Person-Centered Approach. Person-Centered Review, 1 (3), 257-259 Singh, H. (2003). Building Effective Blended Learning Programs. Educational Technology, 51-54. Slater, N. (2008). A learning environment needs to be flexible and adaptable, so that it can quickly respond to the needs of the participants within it. Educause, 9-12. UCOL. (2009). Bachelor of Nursing 2009.