Student Reading Preferences: Will The Past Be Our Future?

STUDENT READING PREFERENCES:

WILL THE PAST BE OUR FUTURE?

Barbara B. Pieper, PhD, RNAssociate Dean, SON

Patricia Cannistraci, DNS, RN, CNEAssistant Dean, SON

Maurice Odondi, PhDDirector of Research and Program Evaluation

Excelsior College, School of NursingAlbany, NY USA

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to:

Stacey Farber, PhDDirector of Assessment and Program Evaluation

The Robert E. Kinsinger Institute for Excellence in Nursing at Excelsior College

Tau Kappa at Large Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing

Accredited, not-for-profit, private college Online, distance education model Open enrollment More than 37,000 enrolled students across 5 Academic

Schools (Business and Technology, Health Sciences, Liberal Arts, Nursing, Public Service)

Mission

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

Multiple Degrees Associate = 16,500 students RN-BS = 1,900 students Master’s/RN-MS = 930 students

SON Demographics Average age = 40 years Diversity = 40% non-White Outside New York = 85% Military/Veteran = 9%

Best College of Nursing for MenAmerican Assembly for Men in Nursing2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013

Tau Kappa at Large ChapterSigma Theta Tau InternationalHonor Society of Nursing

Center of ExcellenceNational League for Nursing2005-2008, 2008-2011, 2011-2016

Background of Study

Technology

Learning

Publishers, librarians, and early adopters are enthusiastic about e-books and e-reading.

Little is known about student learning preferences and study habits.

Assumption and Study Objectives

Assumption Student success can be supported when preferences

and habits are considered when making material choices.

Objectives Identify adult nursing students’ access to mobile

technology. Describe students’ reading (print, electronic) habits and

preferences. Understand students’ perceptions of electronic materials,

including valuable and inhibitive aspects to use.

Methods

Reading Study Questionnaire

IRB approval

Administered to 1,915 enrolled students.

A link to electronic survey was sent to students’ email accounts in late 2013 and early 2014.

Key findings are reported here.

Respondents

Results: Access to Mobile Technology

Rate the Quality of Your Internet Connection

Mobile Devices Owned(check all that apply)

94% of adult nursing students in the Baccalaureate and Master’s programs

have access to at least one mobile device with Internet access.

Results: Preference for Device, Format

Device and Format Preference for 2/3 or More of WeeklyLeisure/Information and Coursework Reading

56% of students do majority of weekly coursework reading on a desktop or laptop.

38% of students do majority of weekly coursework reading from a printed text.

24% of students do majority of weekly coursework reading from printed e-material.

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Results: Preference for Print, Electronic Course Material

Preference for Course with Electronic, Print, Combination Materials

Preference for Rent or OwnElectronic, Print Materials

In addition … 44% of students print out course e-material most or all of the time. 45% of students print out course e-material some of the time. 11% of students never print out course e-material.

Results: Valuable Aspects of Course E-material

Characteristics of Course E-material Considered “Valuable or Very Valuable”

Results: Shortcomings of E-material that Would Affect Coursework

Percent of Students Agreeing that E-material CharacteristicAffects Coursework

Summary

Nearly all students have access to mobile technology with highly reliable access

Computer/desktop is preferred by majority for course-work; followed by printed information

Preferred availability of both print and e-material with ability to be printable

Summary

Valuable characteristics : convenience, portability, ADA

Prohibitive: cost and eye strain

50% want to own print; 11% want to own e-material

Comparison to Literature

Findings similar to other studies:

Traditional 4 year college students (Foasberg, 2013 &

2011)

MBA student in UK (Broadhurst & Watson, 2012)

2010 PEW Foundation Project: Internet and American Life

Implications for Practice

In planning on-line courses: Need for redundancy of ways to access

material Students are self seeking material to enhance

active strategies for learning Creating a healthy learning environment

Implications for Practice

Technology may be an attention getter but not an attention keeper

(Rickman, J., Von Holzen,R., Klute, P.,Tobin,T.; 2009)

Consider: Is the Past Our Future ?

Questions?

Grazie! Contact Information:

bpieper@excelsior.edu pcannistraci@excelsior.edu modondi@excelsior.edu