Brain, Digital, & Learning

 Open access, Peer Reviewed

Indexed in KCI

pISSN 2384-2474
eISSN 2586-7490

RESEARCH ARTICLE

An Educational Approach to Online Learning Tools in Nursing Education Based on Functional Categories

1Department of Nursing, College of Oriental Medicine, Dongshin University
2Department of Nursing, Chonnam National University

Correspondence to Hyunsoo Ryu, 206922@chonnam.edu

Brain, Digital, & Learning. Volume 15, Number 3, 437–449, September 2025. https://doi.org/10.31216/BDL.2025.15.3.7
Received on August 31, 2025, Revised on October 6, 2025, Accepted on October 10, 2025, Published on September 30, 2025.
Copyright © 2025 Institute of Brain based Education, Korea National University of Education This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

As digital transformation accelerates in higher education, the strategic integration of information and communication technologies(ICT) has become essential for contemporary nursing pedagogy. This study addresses persistent structural challenges including high student-to-faculty ratios, limited clinical placements, and insufficient personalized feedback by systematically categorizing online learning tools used in nursing education and examining their pedagogical implications. A scoping review was conducted following the established frameworks of Arksey and O’Malley(2005) and Levac et al.(2010), with reporting aligned to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Literature published between 2019 and 2024 was systematically searched across PubMed, CINAHL, and Embase, supplemented by targeted Google Scholar searches using tool-specific keywords. After applying inclusion criteria and removing duplicates, the researchers selected 13 studies for analysis. Data were extracted on tool functionality, educational context, and learning outcomes, and tools were classified into three functional categories: collaboration, formative assessment, and real-time interaction. Distinct pedagogical benefits emerged across tool types. Collaboration platforms such as Padlet and Allo fostered reflective practice and enhanced students’ communication and empathy skills. Formative assessment tools including Kahoot and Quizizz increased learner motivation and engagement through interactive quizzes with immediate feedback. Real-time interaction tools like Mentimeter and Slido improved classroom inclusiveness and attention, particularly by facilitating dynamic participation in large-enrollment courses. This study provides nursing educators with a functional classification framework to guide tool selection based on specific learning objectives and educational contexts. The findings demonstrate that strategically integrated digital tools can effectively address structural constraints in nursing education while advancing learner-centered pedagogical approaches. Future research should empirically evaluate the long-term educational outcomes and sustained effectiveness of these tools across diverse learning environments.
Keywords

Online learning tools, nursing education, formative assessment, real-time interaction, instructional design

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