RESUMO
Introduction: During the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, many educational institutions faced the challenge of providing and implementing online education. Despite this challenge, most adopted online education systems to ensure that the teaching and learning process continued. This study aimed to explore nursing educators' experiences related to adopting online-only teaching during the (COVID-19) pandemic, providing nursing students with the best learning experiences, and preparing faculty members to teach online. Method: This qualitative descriptive study was conducted using semi-structured interviews from June 2020 to September 2020. Using purposive sampling, 12 nursing educators in Saudi Arabia who taught university courses online during COVID-19 were recruited. They were selected based on their teaching experience in undergraduate and postgraduate degree nursing programs. Results: Thematic analysis revealed an overarching theme-faculty challenges-and three sub-themes-emotional, technical, and educational challenges. Secondary sub-themes comprised four challenges that the nursing faculty faced-using online platforms, accessibility, cheating, and dealing with students' clinical practice-which were found to be interconnected and interrelated. Discussion: Most nursing educators had to shift to online distance teaching suddenly; thus, they faced several challenges related to online teaching, e-learning literacy, classroom management, and connectivity as they transitioned to digitalization. To address these issues, this study recommends that university management organize training programs for educators to help them more effectively conduct online classes. These findings will be valuable for universities, policymakers, designers, and producers to enhance the implementation of their e-learning systems.
RESUMO
AIMS: To assess digital capabilities and academic performance among nursing students and investigate the mediating role of students' self-efficacy. BACKGROUND: In the context of education and technology, digital capabilities, self-efficacy, and academic performance among nursing students are interconnected concepts. Students who use their digital capabilities and competencies combined with their belief in the ability to efficiently perform learning tasks could improve their academic endeavors. Nevertheless, insufficient consideration has been placed on research understanding of the mediating roles and broad elements that influence their relationships. METHODS: A cross-sectional, correlational, descriptive, and quantitative study was established. During the 2022-23 academic year, data were gathered from 200 students. The Hayes Process Model 4 macro was employed to investigate the role of students' self-efficacy mediating effect on the association between digital capabilities and academic performance. RESULTS: The digital capability level and self-efficacy level were high. Additionally, the academic performance level was moderate. The mediation analysis revealed that the direct effect of digital capabilities on student performance in the presence of the mediator was significant (b = 0.0063, p = 0.022). Hence, self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship between digital capabilities and student performance. CONCLUSION: The study emphasized the importance of improving students' digital capabilities that enhance their confidence and self-actualization. In addition, nursing students are encouraged to improve their sense of self-efficacy throughout their tenure in college because it is a predictor of future success.
