Effects of a Moodle-based E-learning Environment on E-collaborative Learning, Perceived Satisfaction, and Study Achievement Among Nursing Students: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Studies suggest that e-learning environments (ELEMs) in nursing education may be more effective than traditional face-to-face teaching, as they lead to learning outcomes that equal or exceed those of face-to-face teaching.

Objectives: To determine whether using ELEM for educational applications can significantly improve e-collaborative learning, perceived satisfaction, and study achievement among nursing students in a paediatric nursing course.

Design: Nonrandomized pretest-posttest quasi-experimental research design.

Settings: A medical college in northern Taiwan.

Participants: Eighty-four students (52 in the non-ELEM group and 32 in the ELEM group) completed both the pretest and posttest.

Methods: Third-year nursing students were recruited and nonrandomly assigned to an experimental group (ELEM) and a nonexperimental group (non-ELEM) of their choice. Students in the former group received traditional classroom teaching without the use of Moodle-based ELEMs, while those in the latter completed the course through Moodle-based ELEMs and classroom lectures.

Results: Regarding perceived satisfaction, e-collaborative learning, and study achievement, the overall test results indicated a significant difference in the posttest between the two groups (F (1,82) = 10.622, P = 0.002), (F (1,82) = 9.481, P = 0.003), (F (1,82) = 59.301, P < 0.001, respectively). The explanatory power η reached 11.5 %, 10.4 %, and 42.0 %, respectively.

Conclusion: The students who used Moodle-based ELEMs combined with classroom teaching showed significantly higher levels of e-collaborative learning, perceived satisfaction, and study achievement in the paediatric nursing course. ELEMs for educational purposes can serve as effective complementary learning tools for paediatric nursing courses.