Online anatomy and physiology: piloting the use of an anatomy and physiology e-book-VLE hybrid in pre-registration and post-qualifying nursing programmes at the University of Salford.
BACKGROUND
Anatomy and physiology (A&P) teaching and learning in nursing curricula poses problems for educators because of the often varying levels of students' background knowledge. This study reports on a pilot project that attempted to normalize these differentials by delivering A&P teaching using an online interactive e-book-virtual learning environment (VLE) hybrid.


OBJECTIVE
Evaluate the effectiveness of using an online interactive resource to deliver A&P teaching.


METHODS
Data were collected from pre-registration and post-qualifying students by questionnaire and observation, and from lecturers by structured interviews. Scale-up issues were identified and documented as part of support for the ongoing pilot.


RESULTS
The pre-registration group encountered problems accessing the resource and yielded evidence to suggest that inexperienced learners require a high level of direction to use the resource effectively. The post-qualifying group benefited from the resource's interactive elements and 24/7 availability. There was clear evidence that the group were able to relate knowledge gained from the resource to practice.


CONCLUSIONS
This hybrid has great potential to add value to A&P learning on nursing programmes at post-qualifying level. The resource could replace its printed equivalent; however, negotiations need to take place between institutions and publishers in order to resolve scale-up issues.
Raynor
Michael
M
Nursing, Information Services Division, University of Salford, Salford, UK. m.j.raynor@salford.ac.uk
Iggulden
Helen
H
D000328:Adult; D000715:Anatomy / Q000193:education*; D003200:Computer User Training; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D003479:Curriculum; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010827:Physiology / Q000193:education*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D014584:User-Computer Interface