Factors Influencing the 21st Century Learning Skills among Nursing Students in Borommarajonani College of Nursing Suratthani

Abstract

This descriptive research aimed to study: 1) the level of nursing students’ 21^st century learning skills, and 2) factors influencing 21^st century learning skills of nursing students. The sample, selected by stratified random sampling technique, included 129 nursing students who were studying first through fourth year at Borommarajonani College of Nursing Suratthani. Questionnaires used as the research tools were: 1) a personal data form, 2) a questionnaire on learner, instructors, and learning support factors that was developed by the researcher and 3) the 21^st century learning skills questionnaire of Sarakshetrin, A. et.al. (2020). The content validity of questionnaires 2 and 3 were examined by three experts and the Cronbach's alpha coefficients were determined to be  .89 and  .96, respectively. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and stepwise multiple regression.

The research findings were as follows: 1) The learning skills in the 21^st century of students was high level overall and in each of the nine subscales, including (1) information technology skills, (2) learning and innovation skills, (3) ethical skills, (4) cross-cultural understanding skills, (5) English language skills, (6) leadership skills, (7) Thai language skills, (8) arithmetic skills and (9) life skills. 2) Learner characteristics, relationships between peer groups, curriculum and extra-curricular activities could statistically predict the 21^stcentury learning skills of nursing students. All predictors accounted for 71.8 % of variance (R² = 0.718, p < .05). The results of this study can be used as guidelines for developing teaching and learning management to better equip learners with 21^st century competencies and foster 21^st century learning skills both in the curriculum and in extra-curricular activities to cover all skills.