PhD graduate, Dr Emmanuel Olufemi Ayandiran.Blended e-Learning Possible for Nursing Students in Nigeria – Study Finding
A PhD study done through UKZN’s College of Health Sciences shows blended e-learning is possible for nursing education in resource-constrained settings in Nigeria.
The research - conducted by Dr Emmanuel Ayandiran under the supervision of Professor Ntombifikile Mtshali - aimed to improve nurses’ access to university education without lessening the quality of such education using technology (ICT) as a tool for excellence.
The study was titled: “Facilitation of the Development of a Blended E-Learning Model for Nursing Education in a Resource-Constrained Educational Setting in Nigeria”.
It successfully designed, developed and piloted a blended e-learning model that is appropriate for effective delivery and learning of nursing knowledge and skills in a resource-constrained community in Nigeria.
Piloted over four months, the results indicated that the developed model was not only found suitable by both learners and instructors but largely effective in achieving learning objectives.
‘It was noted that its use has facilitated an increase in students’ involvement in their own learning and the use of multiple teaching-learning approaches,’ said Ayandiran. ‘The model is a useful tool for increasing access to Nursing education while not compromising on the quality of learning.’
According to Ayandiran, the developed model provides an opportunity for instructors and tutors to grow and become more proficient in online teaching and learning in Nursing. It also has the potential of facilitating life-long learning among nurses while at the same time lessening the burden associated with pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing in a geographical dispersed population like Nigeria.
Ayandiran encountered a few challenges while conducting his study, including the Boko Haram insurgence and terrorist attacks in the north-eastern part of Nigeria which affected data collection there.
He is currently a Senior Lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria, doing research and developing other nurses.
‘Now that my PhD is complete, I want to do a post-doctoral fellowship and build more on my area of research and ultimately become a professor of Nursing,’ said Ayandiran.