The effect of podcast lectures on nursing students' knowledge retention and application.

AIM

This pilot study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of academic podcasts in promoting knowledge retention and application in nursing students.

BACKGROUND

Nursing education no longer simply occurs in a fixed location or time. Computer-enhanced mobile learning technologies, such as academic podcasts, must be grounded in pedagogically sound characteristics to ensure effective implementation and learning in nursing education.

METHOD

A convenience sample of 35 female undergraduate nursing students was randomized into three groups: a traditional face-to-face lecture group, an unsegmented (non-stop) podcast lecture group, and a segmented podcast lecture group. Retention and application of information were measured through a multiple-choice quiz and a case study based on lecture content.

RESULTS

Students in the segmented podcast lecture group demonstrated higher scores on multiple-choice and case-study assessments than those in the other two groups.

CONCLUSION

Nurse educators should be aware of this finding when seeking to employ podcast lectures in nursing education.