{"id":5249,"date":"2017-06-15T01:49:48","date_gmt":"2017-06-15T01:49:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cjni.net\/journal\/?p=5249"},"modified":"2018-06-24T07:21:59","modified_gmt":"2018-06-24T07:21:59","slug":"ipads-in-nursing-education-qualitative-study-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjni.net\/journal\/?p=5249","title":{"rendered":"iPads in nursing education qualitative study"},"content":{"rendered":"

by June Kaminski, RN MSN PhD(c)
\nEditor in Chief<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \"iPads<\/a>Most BSN nursing programs include course(s) in nursing research. The program I teach in offers two courses — one in qualitative and the other in quantitative research. The students who come into this program already have a degree in some other discipline, thus about a third to a half of the class have transfer credit for one or both of these research courses. As well, the students have developed their writing, research, and critical thinking skills during their first degree, and are ready for graduate school. Thus, faculty who teach in this program look for inventive and challenging ways to keep the students\u2019 interest while teaching the program content.<\/p>\n

This research project was one of three major assignments in the program\u2019s Critical Inquiry 2: Qualitative Research course. The official course description outlines: \u201cStudents will enhance their abilities to participate in the research process through critical reflection of various qualitative research methodologies. They will develop their abilities to comprehend, critique, and utilize qualitative data, using appropriate techniques such as clustering and thematic analysis. Students will gain practical knowledge of the many ways in which qualitative research techniques provide a contextual and in-depth understanding of people’s ways of knowing and experiencing. Students will explore ways to apply research findings to guide reflective evidence-informed nursing practice\u201d (Critical Inquiry 2: Qualitative Research course outline, 2012, p.1).<\/p>\n

In previous semesters, students had worked in groups assisting with a variety of research projects. However, in 2014 I decided to organize one project that all students in the class could participate in. I also wanted the focus of the study to have meaning for the students themselves and for the program in general.<\/p>\n

One unique aspect of this program is that all theory courses are completed online. iPads and apps are used in the program to enhance the online learning since they:<\/p>\n