Dissertation
Exploring the lived experiences and perceptions of Millennial nursing students: effective use and value of technology on their educational achievement
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Drexel University
Aug 2018
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/D8WT14
Abstract
The faculty at one suburban university on Long Island observed that the majority of nursing students are of the millennial generation who use electronic devices consistently and competently in their daily lives, but did not seem to incorporate technology in their learning. Students seemed to express disinterest, dissatisfaction, and frustration with computer-assisted assignment in nursing courses. As these students did not seem to fit the theoretical description of "digital natives" who have used technology in all aspects of their lives, the researcher felt that further exploration of this phenomenon was logical and timely in order to better develop and implement educational activities consistent with students' needs and preferences. This phenomenological qualitative research study then explored millennial nursing students' use of technology in their learning and how they perceive that learning technologies do or do not contribute to meeting their educational goals. Through in-person classroom observations, an open-ended questionnaire, and individual interviews with baccalaureate nursing students at one university on suburban Long Island, the researcher gained insights into these students' technology preferences. The study revealed that although all students own laptops or tablets and cellphones, the majority are digital fledglings when using technology for learning, having only recently begun to use technology in their studies. Although students verbalized a preference for traditional lecture pedagogy in the classroom, they appeared disengaged and bored in this environment. They expressed that more engaging learning exercises, such as simulation and audience response systems, are more advantageous in contributing to their academic success. They prefer any learning activity regardless of the use of technology that provides structure and scaffolding to learning, is time-efficient but impactful, and is authentic to nursing practice. From this study, the researcher does not imply that technology is the answer to all learning or that students simply want to be entertained in the classroom. Instead, the researcher suggests that nursing faculty working with these students must be pioneering leaders who are well-trained in a blend of traditional and active learning pedagogies to be able to meet the needs of the heterogeneous nursing student.
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Details
- Title
- Exploring the lived experiences and perceptions of Millennial nursing students
- Creators
- Donna T. Darcy - DU
- Contributors
- Joyce A. Pittman (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xi, 193 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Education (1997-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 8066; 991014631955104721