Design and evaluation of blended teaching in the smart classroom combined with virtual simulation training in basic nursing courses

OBJECTIVE: This study explored the application effect of smart classrooms combined with virtual simulation training in basic nursing courses for nursing undergraduates. METHODS: In this quasi-experimental study, a total of 135 undergraduate nursing students in the 2021 matriculating cohort were selected as the research subjects. The experimental group of Class 1 had 71 students, and a blended teaching design utilizing a smart classroom and virtual simulation training was adopted. The control group of Class 2 had 64 students, and traditional lecture-based teaching design was adopted. After the course, the independent learning ability scale, test scores and teaching effectiveness questionnaire were used to evaluate the teaching effect. All tests had a maximum score of 100. RESULTS: Nursing undergraduates in the experimental group had scores of 86.32 ± 8.25 for virtual simulation training and 84.82 ± 9.04 for peer-assisted learning. The scores of the theoretical examination, experimental examination, and subjective questions in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The approval rate of nursing undergraduates in the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group for four items (Ps < 0.05). Among the 71 students, most students (91.55%) claimed that the use of instructional designs increased the fun of the classroom. In addition to the dimension of information literacy, the total score of independent learning ability and the other three dimensions of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The teaching design combining smart classrooms and virtual simulation training can be applied to realize online blended teaching and classroom informatization, improving the academic performance and independent learning ability of nursing undergraduates, and thus achieving good teaching effects.