Student nurses’ perceptions of Facebook^™ as an interactive learning platform in nursing education

Abstract

Background: The use of Facebook^™ in nursing education is under-researched.

Objective: To assess students’ perceptions of using Facebook^™ as an educational mean to support their study.

Methods: One group pretest–posttest study was conducted in one nursing school in Jordan. Facebook^™ pages were created for two nursing courses. Students completed a questionnaire about students’ perception of using Facebook^™ as educational platform in the first lecture of the semester as a pre-test, and then at the end of the semester as a post-test; after interacting with the created Facebook^™ page.

Results: Students perceived that Facebook^™ is an effective tool for nursing education (n = 119, 78.8%). It can facilitate the communication, ease access to course materials, and provide support for students. However, a few students believed that Facebook^™ is a distraction from study, requires users to have special skills, and does not protect privacy.

Conclusion: This preliminary evaluation revealed that Facebook^™ can be used as an instructional tool to support nursing education.

Keywords:

• perceptions
• Facebook
• learning
• platform
• nursing
• education