Title : Enhancing nursing students' learning abilities through improved evaluation: A latent profile and network analysis approach
Abstract:
This presentation explores the heterogeneity of nursing students' learning abilities and their impact on online learning engagement. We utilized a sample of 670 nursing students and employed a mixed-methods approach incorporating latent profile analysis, network analysis, logistic regression, and multiple linear regression. Our investigation focused on identifying distinct categories of learning abilities based on established scales for metacognitive ability, self-directed learning, and e-learning participation. Network analysis revealed "learning evaluation" as the central node within the overall learning ability network. The latent profile analysis identified three distinct profiles of learning abilities: “Strong” (39.0%), “Average” (26.9%), and "Weak" (34.1%). Interestingly, while "learning evaluation” remained the core node for both the "Average" and "Weak" groups, the "Strong" group's network centered around "metacognitive strategies". Furthermore, we found that higher grade level, using mobile devices for online learning, and ranking within the top 50% academically were significant predictors of membership in the "Strong" group compared to the "Weak" group. Our findings demonstrate a strong positive association between learning ability profiles and online learning engagement. Specifically, both the "Strong" and "Average" groups exhibited significantly higher levels of overall engagement, as well as behavioral, cognitive, and emotional engagement, compared to the "Weak" group. These results underscore the importance of learning ability in shaping online learning experiences and highlight the potential of fostering learning evaluation and metacognitive strategies to enhance overall engagement and academic success in nursing education. This research provides valuable insights for educators seeking to tailor online learning environments to effectively support diverse learning needs and maximize student engagement.
