Enhancing undergraduate nurses’ online learning engagement: A mixed methods study

• Applied sciences for nursing are challenging for many students. Flexible online learning is more inclusive, but may impair the learning experience. • By structuring the online learning environment to provide active learning experiences using different activities and resources, student engagement with the module is improved. A secondary effect was that students felt more digitally capable and developed more diverse learning styles. • Greater collaboration between learning technologists and educators to develop active and engaging online learning environments will enhance student engagement and confidence in using digital learning tools. To evaluate a structured, student-focused online learning environment (OLE) for delivering applied sciences for nursing. Online learning can impair the learning experience for students, but it promotes flexible access to study. A mixed-methods study was used to explore and analyze students’ experiences and preferences for two different delivery models. The original online module space consisted of an information repository. The new OLE was a structured bioscience for nursing module, designed to scaffold student learning to achieve learning outcomes using a variety of different methods to support diverse learning styles. Outcome measures used were student satisfaction, student assessments and qualitative data from module feedback questionnaires and focus groups. Questionnaires on the OLE experience were administered to students (n = 52) and results compared with previous module feedback. Two student focus groups (n = 7) explored these responses in more depth. A redesigned OLE, with student learning as its focus, improved student engagement with the module space. Interactive learning experiences made students feel better prepared for assessment. Students gained greater digital capabilities by using the OLE. The flexibility and potential to re-watch teaching sessions was welcomed. OLEs should be designed collaboratively with learning technologists and regularly reviewed to avoid overwhelming students with irrelevant or outdated materials. Flexible, online learning is ubiquitous, requiring a user-friendly and effective OLE for nursing students.