Transition to blended learning: experiences from the first year of our blended learning Bachelor of Nursing Studies programme.
BACKGROUND
The School of Nursing at Dublin City University offered a new blended learning Bachelor of Nursing Studies programme in the academic year 2011.


OBJECTIVE
To document the experiences of the academic team making the transition from a face-to-face classroom-delivered programme to the new blended learning format.


METHODS
Academics who delivered the programme were asked to describe their experiences of developing the new programme via two focus groups.


RESULTS
Five dominant themes were identified: Staff Readiness; Student Readiness; Programme Delivery and Student Engagement; Assessment of Module Learning Outcomes and Feedback; and Reflecting on the First Year and Thinking of the Future. Face-to-face tutorials were identified as very important to both academics and students. Reservations about whether migrating the programme to an online format encouraged students to engage in additional practices of plagiarism were expressed by some. Student ability/readiness to engage with technology-enhanced learning was an important determinant of their own success academically.


CONCLUSIONS
In the field of nursing blended learning is a relatively new and emerging field which will require huge cultural shifts for staff and students alike.
a School of Nursing and Human Sciences , Dublin City University , Glasnevin, Dublin 9 , Ireland.
Mary-Rose
MR
Sweeney
a School of Nursing and Human Sciences , Dublin City University , Glasnevin, Dublin 9 , Ireland.
Anne
A
Kirwan
a School of Nursing and Human Sciences , Dublin City University , Glasnevin, Dublin 9 , Ireland.
Mary
M
Kelly
a School of Nursing and Human Sciences , Dublin City University , Glasnevin, Dublin 9 , Ireland.
Melissa
M
Corbally
a School of Nursing and Human Sciences , Dublin City University , Glasnevin, Dublin 9 , Ireland.
Sandra
S
O Neill
a School of Nursing and Human Sciences , Dublin City University , Glasnevin, Dublin 9 , Ireland.
Mary
M
Kirwan
a School of Nursing and Human Sciences , Dublin City University , Glasnevin, Dublin 9 , Ireland.
Susan
S
Hourican
a School of Nursing and Human Sciences , Dublin City University , Glasnevin, Dublin 9 , Ireland.
Anne
A
Matthews
a School of Nursing and Human Sciences , Dublin City University , Glasnevin, Dublin 9 , Ireland.
Pamela
P
Hussey
D000328:Adult; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
education; nurse; nurse education; transition to blended learning