Evaluating the effectiveness of Skype as a tool for promoting internationalisation of the nursing curriculum

Melanie Stephens and Dawn HenneferSchool of Nursing & MidwiferyUniversity of Salford

The project focus was to gain an insight into the effectiveness of Skype as a

medium for student support whilst on international placements and for use

within action learning sets to enhance the international experience of the

students/staff in the curriculum through virtual mobility

Project aim

To evaluate the effectiveness of Skype as a medium of communication between students/staff within different countries To evaluate the effectiveness of Skype as a support mechanism for students/staff undertaking an international placementTo explore the use of Skype as a tool to enhance the international experience of students/staff both physical and virtual

Outcomes

Action learning was utilised to support the student on an international placement, alongside Skype (online synchronous tool) It was hoped that the use of this blended learning would help students meet the challenges of learning from experience and develop adaptive competence (Hager, 1998), keeping them on placement overseas instead of returning home (Simpson, 2000).

Pedagogy

Methodology

• Action Research

• Purposive sample

• Data generation

• Thematic analysis

Action research

• Cyclic• Ontology• Epistemology• Social purpose• Methodology

Purposive Sample

• 22 participants (18 on international placements 4 at home) • Student nurses in 3rd year of programme for Degree and diploma programme from three branches adult, child mental health • Undertaking international placements in America, Australia, Cyprus, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Slovakia and Spain • 12 lecturers involved – personal tutors, international link lecturers and action learning set facilitators.

Data GenerationTwo fold approach was taken:

• One online individual questionnaire. Comprised of 15 questions, 6 questions were to identify the demographic information and the rating of information technology skills and the remaining 9 questions were to ask about the effectiveness of Skype as a means of communication, support, and knowledge transfer.

• Focus groups. The narrative of these groups was recorded with student permission so that information provided within the session could be listened to within its relevant context. (The online questionnaire was used as a framework)

The narrative of the qualitative data was analysed thematically using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) 6 stage model of analysis:

Becoming familiar with the data Creating initial codes Reflecting the participants words Searching for themes Reviewing themes Defining and naming themes and producing the report

Thematic Analysis

Themes:

Operational issuesPastoral careAcademic support Cultural and personal awarenessdevelopment.

Thematic analysis

Operational issues:

TrainingEase of useAccessibilityUsageTimingNetiquetteTechnological support

Findings

Findings

Pastoral:

Face to Face

Instructional immediacy

Contact

Support

Academic / Peer support:

Assessment support

Sharing of the experience

Cultural awareness and development

Other findings – action learning

Findings

Discussion

On reflection we should have considered evaluating the process using:-

Salmon’s (2000) E -moderating Framework

Laurillard’s (2000) Conversational Framework

The Community of Inquiry Framework (Garrison et al, 2000)

Community of Inquiry Framework

Operational Issues (Choy and Chi Ng, 2005, Pallof and Pratt, 2001, Volery and Lord, 2000).

Pastoral Care / Academic and Peer support(Biggs, 2003, Hutchins, 2003, Sims, 2003, Ryan and Twimbell, 2000).

Cultural Awareness (Duffy et al, 2005)

Curriculum development

Conclusion

Skype therefore can be considered a useful medium of communication and support between staff and students in different countries, the added value is being able to see the face of the person who one is communicating with, providing extra non verbal communication signals to both recipients

More work required to aid the development of cultural awareness and understanding of their peers.

Recommendations

So where to now?• Next action research cycle to evaluate internationalisation of the nursing curricula• To develop blog and Skype training for all students on pre- registration nurse programmes with at least one month practise. • Development of best practice guidance for Skype use.