Keywords

Asynchronous online learning, Bloom's revised taxonomy, Critical learning, Collaborative learning, Salmon's e-moderators, Threaded discussion

 

Authors

  1. KUHN, JONATHAN PhD Statistics
  2. HASBARGEN, BARBARA MSN, RN, CNS, CNN
  3. MIZINIAK, HALINA MSN, RN

Abstract

Tests and final examination scores of three semesters of control students in a nursing foundation course were compared with tests and final examination scores of three semesters of participating students. Participating students were offered access to an asynchronous pretest online discussion activity with a faculty e-moderator. While the simplified Bloom's revised taxonomy assisted in creating appropriate preparatory test and final examination questions for pretest online discussion, Salmon's five-stage online method provided direction to the e-moderator on how to encourage students to achieve Bloom's higher-order thinking skills during the pretest online discussions. Statistical analysis showed the pretest online discussion activity had a generally positive impact on tests and final examination scores, when controlling for a number of possible confounding variables, including instructor, cumulative grade point average, age, and credit hours.