Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the healthcare environment and the learning settings of nursing students, resulting in a shift from traditional face-to-face education classes to online courses. This shift has impacted students’ learning opportunities and has required nursing schools to adapt to new modes of education delivery [
1]. The pandemic has forced universities around the world to rapidly improvise and adopt online teaching methods [
2]. Consequently, nursing education underwent many changes, and nursing students inevitably turned to different types of e-learning through various social networks [
3]. E-learning is the use of electronic resources like the internet, computers, and smartphones to acquire and disseminate knowledge [
4]. Iran is among the countries that have adopted various e-learning methods as an alternative to traditional education [
5].
Given the rapid changes in teaching-learning environments, e-learning based education is an alternative or supplement to conventional teaching and it offers new models of learning opportunities for individuals at any time [
6]. Despite the fact that over three and a half million students are estimated to be currently enrolled in e-learning classes, there is limited information available regarding its level of flexibility, distribution, and openness [
7]. E-learning has a positive impact on the academic achievements of students, as it reduces costs, saves time, increases accessibility of education, and enhances academic performance [
8]. However, there are challenges in providing e-learning education in universities, such as the lack of financial and physical resources to supply the necessary computer systems and equipment, which are major obstacles to its development [
9,
10]. E-learning based education infrastructures encompasses technological tools, systems and structures that facilitate proper access to e-learning services [
11]. Furthermore, the results of various studies have demonstrated that the most significant obstacles to e-learning are unsuitable organizational structures, cultural and environmental challenges, as well as negative public perceptions [
12,
13]. During the COVID-19 pandemic, several studies have suggested that learners were not adequately prepared for e-learning and expressed dissatisfaction with the method [
14‐
16]. According to a study, medical students expressed dissatisfaction with the use of e-learning technology when compared to in-person classrooms, citing feelings of isolation and disconnection from their peers and instructors [
17]. García-González et al. (2021) reported that a significant majority of nursing students experienced emotional impacts such as elevated levels of anxiety due to the shift to online learning during the COVID-19 outbreak [
18]. Results from a study of nursing students indicated that 61.6% of students had negative attitudes to e-learning [
16]. However, the results of another study indicated that nursing students had a positive e-learning experience [
19]. Elzainy and colleagues indicated that E-learning was highly beneficial for competent educators as it decreased the need for in-class attendance, compensated for the suspension of face-to-face teaching, and provided more opportunities for open discussions [
20]. E-learning has been shown to be effective and valuable in nursing education, as it actively engages learners in the learning process and facilitates self-directed learning. The continuous presentation of teaching materials can improve student motivation, satisfaction, and enjoyment compared to other methods of instruction [
21].
Nursing students in low-income countries often hold negative attitudes towards online learning, primarily due to the high cost of internet connections and slow internet speeds [
14]. Despite the importance of understanding nursing e-learning based education during the COVID-19 pandemic from a qualitative perspective, the majority of studies conducted have been quantitative, with few qualitative studies exploring this issue [
15]. Qualitative research provides detailed descriptions of participants’ experiences and feelings, emphasizing subjective and diverse perspectives to gain an in-depth understanding of a social issue or problem [
22]. Qualitative content analysis is a widely used method in nursing science that can be applied to a variety of contexts and data sources [
23]. Qualitative content analysis systematically codes and classifies text to uncover patterns and themes, generating knowledge and understanding of the phenomenon being studied beyond simple word counting [
24].
This study aims to describe challenges and facilitators of e-learning in nursing education during the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of those involved, using a qualitative approach.
Results
The study included 16 participants who had experience with nursing e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data were categorized into two categories: e-learning challenges and e-learning facilitators. The e-learning challenges category consisted of five subcategories, including inexperienced teachers, Ineffective learning, Academic cheating, System problems, and Inappropriate evaluation (Table
2). The e-learning facilitators category included two subcategories, improving education and Promoting online exams (Table
3).
Table 2
Category of e-learning education challenge, its subcategories and condensed codes
Challenges of e-learning | Inexperienced teachers | • Incapable to use Camtasia software • No e-learning training experience • High and bulky loading of files compared to the number of units • Concurrently loading several files at the same time, especially near the end of the semester exam • Uncertain scheduling of sending files • Not using the forum option in the system |
Ineffective learning | • Some teachers use English content in the files • Failure to perceive some basic science courses’ content • Non-class attendance compulsory • Not continuing learning by the student • Reduced communication between students and teachers • Teacher-centered teaching • Education without using educational aids |
Academic cheating | • Copying assignments and sending them to professor •a Variety of cheating in online education • Forming a cheating group in the class |
System problems | • Some students not accessing the Internet • Lack of hardware and software facilities at the beginning of the pandemic • Low internet speed • The problem of uploading and downloading large files • Structural problems of Navid software |
Inappropriate evaluation | •Lack of feedback from student learning • Unrealistic evaluation of students • Reduced evaluation quality due to the inability to send assignments • Limited variety of test questions |
Table 3
Category of facilitators of e-learning, its subcategories and condensed codes
Facilitators of e-learning | Improving education | •Enhancing teachers’ skills in using e-learning facilities • Integrating several methods for teaching • Using specific schedule to upload files • Holding online question-answer session • Encouraging students to be more active |
Promoting online exam | • Providing a better infrastructure for exams • increasing the number of online exams • Uploading more assignments by teachers •Performing standard tests under suitable conditions |
Challenges of E-learning Education
The first category that emerged from the analysis of the participants’ statements on their e-learning experience during the COVID-19 pandemic was “E-learning challenges,“ which consisted of the following five subcategories:
Inexperienced teachers
The participants’ statements indicated that some teachers lacked sufficient experience with e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the participants noted that these teachers faced challenges with using Camtasia software (an interactive online learning video software [
30]), had limited experience with e-learning-based education, struggled with uploading large files of educational materials, had difficulty uploading several files simultaneously, did not adhere to a schedule for uploading files, and did not utilize the forum session.
Participants shared their experience as follows:
“In the first course of online training, the teachers uploaded a large amount of files close to the exam time…” (Participant 1).
One of the teachers said: “At the beginning, it was very difficult for me, it was all trial and error to record audio and video in Camtasia software.” (Participant 3).
Ineffective learning
According to the participants’ statements, “Ineffective learning,“ particularly in vocational training, was another subcategory of e-learning challenges. Participants identified problems such as the use of English language in educational materials, difficulty in understanding the educational content for some students, high levels of student absenteeism in online classrooms, irregular learning patterns by some students, poor interaction among students and with the teacher, teacher-centered teaching, and a lack of use of teaching aids. Participants shared their experiences in this regard:
“In the Navid system (a software for uploading educational materials), you cannot ask your own questions directly; you can ask the teacher through sending a message, but I prefer not to ask”. (Participant 5)
“I’m not fond of the online classroom because I’m not in contact with the students in person. It’s not enjoyable for me at all. As I can’t see the students’ faces, I can’t get the due feedback from my class.” (Participant 6).
“Lots of the students are from the rural areas and may not have access to the Internet, and some said that they do not have a laptop or a computer, and the Navid system cannot be loaded on their mobile phones.” (Participant 9).
Academic cheating
Another subcategory of e-learning challenges was “Academic cheating.“ Participants noted instances such as copying assignments and submitting them to teachers, the use of various cheating methods in e-learning education, and the formation of cheating groups in online classes. Participants shared their experiences as follows:
“I feel bad when some students cheat during exams or they send us duplicated assignments. “(Participant 11).
“Usually in the online exam, there is room for some students to cheat despite the teachers trying to control it.” (Participant 10).
System problems
Participants also discussed system-related problems, such as issues with internet access, a lack of sufficient hardware and software facilities at the onset of the pandemic, slow internet speeds, difficulties with uploading and downloading large educational files, and challenges with working with Navid software. Participants shared their experiences as follows:
“E-learning education costs a lot to upload and download large files for the teachers and the students” (participant 14).
“Considering that the main server is in the headquarters of the university and we do not access it, we could not solve the problems of disconnections immediately.” (Participant 13).
Inappropriate evaluation
Based on the participants’ experiences, an inappropriate educational evaluation was identified as another e-learning challenge. Although educational evaluation is an important component of the learning process, participants noted that it did not have sufficient credibility in the context of e-learning education. Participants shared their experiences as follows:
“When I find out about students’ cheating, I don’t know what may happen to their educational evaluation matter.” (Participant 16).
“Considering that some students pass the exam by cheating, the rights of the students who painstakingly handwrite and studied the files are violated.” (Participant 2).
E-learning education facilitators
Another main theme that emerged from this study was e-learning facilitators, which included two subcategories: improving education and promoting online exams.
Improving education
To improve Education, participants identified several measures, such as enhancing teachers’ skills in using e-learning facilities, integrating multiple teaching methods, adhering to a specific schedule for uploading files, retraining teachers to work optimally with the software, holding online question-and-answer sessions, encouraging student participation, and increasing teachers’ access to online webcams. Participants shared their experiences as follows:
“I was the advisor of the first semester students, and on a daily routine, I asked them about the study hours through the WhatsApp group, which encouraged competition and increased their studies.” (Participant 15).
“We had a teacher who presented the lesson to us through files, both audio and video in the Navid system, and he solved our course related problems through WhatsApp.” (participant 12).
From the teachers’ perspective, online courses were considered more effective for learning because they were similar to in-person classes. The active presence of the students, the question asking and answering potential, the possibility of seeing the teacher while presenting the material, creating more motivation and attention in learning are some of the merits of online education.
Participant number eight stated that:” In online education, seeing the teacher in person can be an encouragement for the student to study.“
Or participant number two said:” In online class, the communication problem with the student is somewhat solved.”
Participant number four stated so:” For online classes, it is better if the teachers hold the classes after five pm to have better interaction with the students.”
Improving online exam
Participants discussed potential solutions to ensure more valid exams. They suggested improving infrastructure, increasing the number of online examinations, having teachers upload more assignments, and conducting standardized tests under appropriate conditions. The participants provided the following accounts of their experiences:
Participant number seven said:” At the end of the class, I usually asked three to four questions from the lesson so that to come up with good assessment “.
Participant number three also stated: “It’s better to adjust the exam time and the answering duration.”
Participant number 13 said: “we predicted all the possible solutions for online exam, for instance we determined a specific time for each question and the exam questions their answer were randomly presented to reach more desirable evaluation.”
In the present study, the students mentioned some advantages accrued through e-learning based education, such as the lack of attendance in the physical classroom, being free to choose the time and type of the course for studying, easy access to the educational material which had been saved in the software system, saving time and money, not requiring to hold compensatory.
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