title: Students' perspective of the effectiveness of an asynchronous on-line seminar.
abstract: This study was conducted to understand students' perceptions of the usefulness of on-line discussion for a nursing seminar. The interpretative approach was selected to explore the students' perceptions of the effectiveness of the on-line discussion. The participants were recruited from maternity nursing courses on two rural campuses in Nebraska. A convenience sample of 31 participated in the study with a purposive sample of 10 representing extreme views selected for in-depth interviews. Eight patterns emerged as a plausible interpretation of the on-line experience. These patterns were exemplified by the themes of engagement theory (relate, create, and donate). The pattern that was identified as relational was learner-to-learner learning without face-to-face communication. However, isolation was found to inhibit relating. Creating, the second theme, was exemplified by multiperspective opinions, however, frustration with the technology and anxiety/information overload inhibited the creative aspects. Finally, the third theme, donate, was represented by having time for critical thinking/reflection while participating in the on-line discussions. The findings of this research support the need for more studies to explore students' perception of the usefulness of on-line discussion.
authors: College of Nursing, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Scottsbluff 69361, USA. slwilhel@unmc.edu
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Wilhelm
authors: T Kim
authors: TK
authors: Rodehorst
authors: Suzanne
authors: S
authors: Young
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Jensen
authors: Mary Beth
authors: MB
authors: Stepans
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003142:Communication; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing / Q000193:education; D009329:Nebraska; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009862:Online Systems / Q000592:standards*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012934:Social Isolation; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*