The perceptions of nursing students regarding the innovative teaching and learning strategies used in biological and natural sciences courses at a nursing college

Abstract

Biological Nursing Sciences (BNS) is one of the fundamental subjects taught in the first year and second year of study in Nursing Education and training. Most students are struggling with the subject therefore, lecturers use different teaching and learning strategies to try and improve students’ performance in the subject. The students were involved in Multiple Intelligence Approaches, Flipped classrooms, Jigsaw puzzles, and online teaching and learning methods. The purpose of the study was to explore the perceptions of the third- and fourth-year nursing students’ regarding innovative teaching and learning strategies in the Biological and Natural Sciences course. The study was conducted at a Nursing College in Gauteng. The researcher used a non-experimental quantitative descriptive research design. The non-probability convenience sampling strategy was used to select the participants who met the inclusion criteria. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire, consisting of closed-ended questions. The software programme, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 was used for data analysis. The findings revealed that the preferred method of teaching and learning were the jigsaw group discussion and multiple intelligence approach. However, Zoom as an e-learning teaching platform was found not to be a preferred strategy for teaching and learning. The findings also revealed that innovative teaching strategies motivate students to study and seek more information.