Impact of Technology Enhanced Learning In Transnational Higher Education (TNHE)

Dr Nirmala Devi Arunasalam

1 May 2014

Malaysian nurses views on

Technology Enhanced Learning

in TNHE post-registration nursing

degree programmes

AIM

TNHE POST-REGISTRATION NURSING PROGRAMMES

Upgrade diploma qualifications (240 credits) to a degree level

(360 credits).

Teaching on the programme

is delivered over one week for a 15 credit module and

two weeks for a 30 credit module

content is 100% theory

lacks a practice component

does not require clinical assessment

No automatic right of registration to practice.

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Clinical Practice

Theoretical knowledge

Evidence Based Practice used in Patient Care

Key to Nurse Education

Summary of Literature Review

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Limited use of online Libraries and online resources remained unnoticed or are seriously underutilised.

The impact of IT on the user's job satisfaction and quality of working life show many contradictory and inconclusive reports.

Acceptance of using Information Technology has an effect on an individual's use and performance.

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Research Design

Method

Methodology

Hermeneutic Phenomenology & Ethnographic principle of cultural interpretation

Qualitative

In-depth Semi-structured Interviews undertaken in Bahasa Malaysia & English

Nurses who had completed the post- registration nursing degree programmes and volunteered to be interviewed

Convenience sample of 6 recruited from UK followed by snowball sampling of 12 in Malaysia

Sample

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Time

Relationship of researcher to nurses

Memory

Limitations

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Benner’s (1994) hermeneutic analysis

Focus on capturing the descriptions and

meanings of the Malaysian nurses’ experiences.

Data Analysis

“Their perception is, it is distance learning so

we have to take all the effort and do. I can’t

be asking another third party to come and

teach me, because I am doing it with you and

I am paying you so it is your responsibility”

(Int: 017).

On-line Teaching

“Long distance learning, very tough lah … The

media used is computer, we Asian we don’t use

computer that much. We only open when we

need otherwise we don’t even open” (Int: 007).

On-line Teaching/Learning

“Distance learning difficult especially if one

is not IT savvy or have facility” (Int: 003).

On-line Teaching/ Learning

Access to Internet

“We difficult get internet university …

sometimes I try, try, try, 30, 40, 50 minutes,

nothing … I fed up and close” (Int: 011).

Aaargh!

“At Malaysia we not speaking English,

Malaysian English, we mix everything, all

mixed English Language ...” (Int: 009).

Language

“I found it difficult to the language, I trying to

figure one word, she has finished sentence.

She said one die [accent], I thought Oh dear!

Who has died? Then I realise she actually

meant one day!” (Int: 016).

Face-to-face teaching

The majority of TNHE academics had limited

insight and nurses assumed their knowledge

was based on “internet info, isn’t it” (Int: 014)

and “she Google lah” (Int: 013).

TNHE Academics Knowledge

“Tough! In UK they learn for a long period,

three four months, but here in Malaysia it is

for only two weeks, everything has to enter

immediately. We are like blank, blank! Not

enough [time to gain understanding of

knowledge or discussion], difficult to cope,

teach, teach, we want to ask questions no

time” (Int: 014). 

Short Time-frame

 

“Guidelines given on database, but not useful.

No, it is a struggle. I put in A‑Z whatever I know

or feel I want, just pour it in my paper, I have to

open book, see what is in their content and then I

copy in to my content” (Int: 003).  

On-line Information

 

“Through email we can ask but how much can

we ask, right. Even when we ask you see

there is another cultural and language barrier.

The way we ask they don’t understand what

exactly we want and they will be

understanding different thing and they will be

replying different thing” (Int: 017).

 

Assessment Support

“… they say email.

What we don’t understand, when we email

often, they don’t like it, … we become a

nuisance. They tell us to wait for response,

then email, but sometimes no response for

weeks! We felt abandoned” (Int: 002).

Assessment Support

  

“Till now I don’t understand, we followed

Harvard referencing. When the result came,

comment was the reference was not

appropriate. When we ask them they say

‘please refer to handbook’ but I follow

handbook!” (Int: 002).

 

On-line Feedback

POSITIVE OUTCOMES

“Interest to find out, certain terms I don’t

understand, I will go and search in the internet.

Before, I just ignore or not my job or ok if I don’t

know that, as long as I can understand what I

need to understand” (Int: 011)

 

Learning to use technology, a key skill that

most had to learn for the first time, raises the

question as to whether it must be a required

criteria for being accepted onto the programme.

The nurses previous routine ways and

practices had helped them to maintain a sense

of personal comfort and security. This was

challenged by technology enhanced learning .

For some it led to frustration whilst for others it

led to personal growth.

References

Hong, W., Thong, J.Y., Wong, W.M. & Tam, K.Y., (2002) Determinants of user acceptance of

digital libraries: an empirical examination of individual differences and system characteristics.

Journal of Management Information Systems. 18 (97-124).

Koohang, A., & Durante, A., (2003). Learners’ perceptions toward the web-based distance

learning activities/assignments portion of an undergraduate hybrid instructional model. Journal

of Informational Technology Education,. 2(105-113).

Lee, M.K.O., Cheung, C.M.K. & Chen, Z., (2005). Acceptance of Internet-based learning

medium: The role of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. Information & Management. 42(1095-

1104).

Ramayah, T., Jantan, M & Bushra, A., (2003). Internet usage among students of institutions of

higher learning: The role of motivational variables. The Proceedings of the 1st International

Conference on Asian Academy of Applied Business Conference, Sabah, Malaysia, 10-12 July.

Any Questions

Email: n.d.arunasalam@herts.ac.uk