Volume 22 Issue 4

Effectiveness of Participatory Classroom Teaching Versus Web-Based Learning About Essential Newborn Care: A Comparative Study

Geetanjli Kalyan, Sandhya Ghai, Balvinder Kaur, Jasmin Dhillon, Manpreet Kaur, Neha Saini, Santosh Negi, Manisha Sharma, Tanushree Sahoo

Abstract

Background: To educate nurses and physicians on Essential Newborn Care (ENBC), an android phone–based application on ENBC integrated with videos and an Online Neonatal Training and Orientation Programme (ONTOP) comprising ENBC modules, webinars, and podcasts have been launched by the WHO Collaborating Center for Training and Research in Newborn Care (AIIMS, New Delhi, India). This web-based learning resource can be accessed worldwide. It is important to compare its effectiveness with participatory classroom teaching method, generally used to teach ENBC.

Aim: To compare the effectiveness of participatory classroom teaching and web-based learning on the knowledge gained about ENBC among selected nursing students

Materials and Methods: This nonexperimental, comparative study included third-year nursing students from the National Institute of Nursing Education (Chandigarh, India). The students were divided into 2 groups using the convenient sampling method. The ENBC participatory learning manual and the ENBC app with webinars developed by the WHO Collaborating Center were used for comparison. Pretest and posttest knowledge was assessed through the structured questionnaire on each module every day, at the end of all the modules, and 15 days after the completion of the selected modules. In addition, the students’ opinion about their learning experience was assessed.

Results: The results show that in both groups, there was a significant improvement in knowledge scores from baseline to tests 1 and 2, whereas no difference was found between the groups. The students were happy with the presence of the mentor and role plays in participatory learning, whereas the students in the ENBC app and webinar group missed the mentors.

Conclusion: Participatory classroom teaching is preferred over web-based learning. However, web-based learning is equally effective, provided a mentor is available online to clarify doubts. Both methods can be used independently or simultaneously.

Please fill the form to download the PDF of this article:

(* Mandatory fields)