Nursing Student and Faculty Perceptions of Computer-Based Instruction at a 2-Year College

The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of computer-based instruction (CBI) from the students' perspective. The study was conducted among faculty and second-year nursing students at a community college. Fifteen students, the nursing director, and two laboratory staff members were interviewed using open-ended questions. A focus group was conducted among nine nursing faculty members to determine whether student perceptions differed from faculty expectations. Comments made by students and faculty were coded, counted, and rank ordered. Analysis of the coded responses led to five major themes: Student Recollections of CBI Are Time Bound, CBI Enhances Learning Under Certain Conditions, CBI Hinders Learning Under Certain Conditions, Effective Application of CBI Depends on a Variety of Conditions, and CBI Benefits Nursing Education in Certain Areas. Three conclusions emerged: CBI should be applied to appropriate content areas, CBI should make reasonable demands on students, and CBI should occur in an environment with minimal distractions.