title: A comparison of on-campus first year undergraduate nursing students' experiences with face-to-face and on-line discussions.
abstract: Only limited pedagogical use has been made of information and communications technology (ICT) in nursing education in Norway. In this study the use of ICT was linked to assignments in the first year undergraduate nursing program and included four on-line discussions. There is evidence to suggest that on-line discussions can enhance the learning environment. The students' experiences of the on-line discussions are compared to those of the students participating in traditional group discussions. The results show little difference between the two groups' opinions of the discussions' fruitfulness and the ease in which they expressed their feelings, thoughts and ideas. However, there is a marked difference between the two groups regarding their experience of how the discussions affected the amount of contact between group members outside the discussions. Possible reasons for these findings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Oslo University College, Faculty of Nursing, P.O. Box 4, St. Olavs Plass, 0130 Oslo, Norway. Hilary.Jacobsen@su.hio.no
authors.forename: Hilary E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003142:Communication; D003197:Computer Literacy; D003200:Computer User Training; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009862:Online Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires