Blackboard E-Learning Application and Students’ Perception of Diatetics in Colleges of Nursing Sciences in Cross River State, Nigeria

The study examined Blackboard e-learning application and students’ perception of Diatetics in Colleges of Nursing Sciences in Cross River State, Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive survey research. The population of the study comprised of all the nursing lecturers and year 1 nursing students (Nursing department) for 2024/2025 in Colleges of Nursing Sciences in the study area. A sample of 50 nursing lecturers and 343 year 1 nursing students were drawn from two Colleges of Nursing in the study area (2024/2025 session). Purposive sampling techniques was used to select the nursing lecturers, while census sampling technique was used for the selection of the entire 343 year 1 nursing students as sample for the study. The researchers developed two instruments for the study from the knowledge of literature and was used to collect the required data. The instruments are Lecturers’ Blackboard E-Learning Application Questionnaire (LBEAQ) and Students’ Diatetics Perception Scale (SDPS). The reliability of the instruments was established using Cronbach alpha reliability which yielded a reliability coefficient of .77 and .81 respectively. Simple Linear Regression was used to analyze data for all the hypotheses; at 0.5 level of significance. The result of the analysis revealed that there is a significant influence of lecturers’ awareness of, and use of Blackboard e-learning application on students’ perception of Diatetics. The study concluded that when lecturers possess adequate knowledge of Blackboard and actively integrate it into teaching, students tend to develop a more positive, engaged, and confident outlook toward clinical Diatetics. Sequel to the findings of this study, it was recommended, among others that policy should require periodic and structured professional development programs focused on blackboard e-learning tools, especially tailored toward Diatetics.

Keywords: Blackboard E-Learning Application, Students’ Perception of Diatetics, Colleges of Nursing Sciences