A presentation by Excelsior College's Barbara Pieper, PhD, RN, Patricia Cannistraci, DNS, RN, CNE, and Maurice Odondi, PhD, describing the reading habits and preferences of returning adult nursing students in regard to electronic reading material for both leisure/social enjoyment and academic work.

1. STUDENT READING PREFERENCES:
WILL THE PAST BE OUR FUTURE?
Barbara B. Pieper, PhD, RN
Associate Dean, SON
Patricia Cannistraci, DNS, RN, CNE
Assistant Dean, SON
Maurice Odondi, PhD
Director of Research and Program Evaluation
Excelsior College, School of Nursing
Albany, NY USA

2. Acknowledgments
Special thanks to:
Stacey Farber, PhD
Director of Assessment and Program Evaluation
The Robert E. Kinsinger Institute for
Excellence in Nursing at Excelsior College
Tau Kappa at Large Chapter, Sigma Theta
Tau International Honor Society of Nursing

3.  Accredited, not-for-profit, private college
 Online, distance education model
 Open enrollment
 More than 37,000 enrolled students across 5 Academic
Schools (Business and Technology, Health Sciences,
Liberal Arts, Nursing, Public Service)
 Mission

4.  Accreditation Commission for
Education in Nursing (ACEN)
 Multiple Degrees
 Associate = 16,500 students
 RN-BS = 1,900 students
 Master’s/RN-MS = 930 students
 SON Demographics
 Average age = 40 years
 Diversity = 40% non-White
 Outside New York = 85%
 Military/Veteran = 9%
Best College of Nursing for Men
American Assembly for Men in Nursing
2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013
Tau Kappa at Large Chapter
Sigma Theta Tau International
Honor Society of Nursing
Center of Excellence
National League for Nursing
2005-2008, 2008-2011, 2011-2016

5. Background of Study
 Technology
 Learning
 Publishers, librarians, and early adopters are
enthusiastic about e-books and e-reading.
 Little is known about student learning
preferences and study habits.

6. Assumption and Study Objectives
Assumption
 Student success can be supported when preferences
and habits are considered when making material
choices.
Objectives
 Identify adult nursing students’ access to mobile
technology.
 Describe students’ reading (print, electronic) habits and
preferences.
 Understand students’ perceptions of electronic materials,
including valuable and inhibitive aspects to use.

7. Methods
 Reading Study Questionnaire
 IRB approval
 Administered to 1,915 enrolled students.
 A link to electronic survey was sent to students’ email
accounts in late 2013 and early 2014.
 Key findings are reported here.

8. Respondents

9. Results: Access to Mobile Technology
Rate the Quality of
Your Internet Connection
Mobile Devices Owned
(check all that apply)
94% of adult nursing students in the
Baccalaureate and Master’s programs
have access to at least one mobile device with Internet access.

10. Results: Preference for Device, Format
Device and Format Preference for 2/3 or More of Weekly
Leisure/Information and Coursework Reading
56% of students do majority of
weekly coursework reading on a
desktop or laptop.
38% of students do majority of
weekly coursework reading from
a printed text.
24% of students do majority of
weekly coursework reading from
printed e-material.
NotBlackboardCapable

11. Results: Preference for Print, Electronic
Course Material
Preference for Course with Electronic,
Print, Combination Materials
Preference for Rent or Own
Electronic, Print Materials
In addition …
 44% of students print out course e-material most or all of the time.
 45% of students print out course e-material some of the time.
 11% of students never print out course e-material.

12. Results: Valuable Aspects of Course
E-material
Characteristics of Course E-material
Considered “Valuable or Very Valuable”

13. Results: Shortcomings of E-material that
Would Affect Coursework
Percent of Students Agreeing that E-material Characteristic
Affects Coursework

14. Summary
 Nearly all students have access to mobile
technology with highly reliable access
 Computer/desktop is preferred by majority
for course-work; followed by printed
information
 Preferred availability of both print and e-
material with ability to be printable

15. Summary
 Valuable characteristics : convenience,
portability, ADA
 Prohibitive: cost and eye strain
 50% want to own print; 11% want to own
e-material

16. Comparison to Literature
 Findings similar to other studies:
 Traditional 4 year college students (Foasberg, 2013 &
2011)
 MBA student in UK (Broadhurst & Watson, 2012)
 2010 PEW Foundation Project: Internet and
American Life

17. Implications for Practice
 In planning on-line courses:
 Need for redundancy of ways to access
material
 Students are self seeking material to enhance
active strategies for learning
 Creating a healthy learning environment

18. Implications for Practice
Technology may be an attention getter but
not an attention keeper
(Rickman, J., Von Holzen,R., Klute, P.,Tobin,T.; 2009)
Consider: Is the Past Our Future ?

19. Questions?
 Grazie!
 Contact Information:
 bpieper@excelsior.edu
 pcannistraci@excelsior.edu
 modondi@excelsior.edu