Effectiveness of blended learning on critical thinking skills of nursing students

Rapid growth of information and communication technology (ICT) has taken the attention of technology into human needs. One of the basic needs of mankind is critical thinking which has an effective role in the growth and evolution of individual and mankind’s civilization. The influence of many variables on critical thinking has been studied without considering the effect of using blended learning on critical thinking skills among nursing students. Therefore, this research aims to investigate the effects of using blended learning on nursing students’ critical thinking. This was a Quasi-experimental study. The study population was nursing students from Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardebil, Iran. We have chosen two classes using convenience sampling. The tools that have been used in this research were California Critical Thinking Skills Test; Form B (CCTST). At the beginning of the study, the questionnaire of critical thinking was accomplished for both control and experimental groups. The experimental group was taught by blended learning method and control group which was taught by face to face method. At the end of the semester, post test of critical thinking skills was accomplished for both groups. Data were analyzed using ANCOVA. There was no significant difference in the mean score in the critical thinking skills between the control and experimental groups before the intervention (control group: 10.93, experimental group 11.25). Results after intervention shown that the score of critical thinking experimental group has significantly increased in comparison with control group’s score (P<0.001). The results of this study have shown that blended learning has significant impact on critical thinking skills and sub-components of analysis, evaluation, and inferential, but it has not significant impact on component of inductive and deductive thinking. So, using of blended learning is one of the important factors of development and prosperity of nursing students’ critical thinking skills. Thus, it is recommended to use this method in educational systems.