Introduction: To ensure the optimal efficiency of e-learning, it is crucial to focus on both the content presented by professors and the expectations of students. With this in mind, a study was conducted to identify the most common teaching methods used by nursing professors in e-classes and the preferences of nursing students in regard to e-learning.
Methods: The study in question was cross-sectional, involving 228 Iranian nursing students who met the necessary criteria and were selected through a simple random method. A standard questionnaire was used as the instrument, and the data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with SPSS version 22 software. In this study, P ≤ 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.
Results: According to the study, the most commonly used teaching method by nursing professors was PowerPoint in conjunction with lectures (199, 87.3%). Interestingly, this was also the preferred teaching method for most nursing students (161, 70.6%). However, many students expressed concern about the lack of interaction (150, 65.8%), the absence of lesson plans presented by the majority of professors (187, 82%), and the professors' lack of attention given to assignments submitted by students during e-classes (180, 78.5%).
Conclusion: Although nursing students expressed satisfaction with the educational methods used by their professors, there are still obstacles that hinder the effectiveness of e-learning. Therefore, professors and educational policymakers must work toward removing these obstacles to ensure the optimal efficiency of electronic learning and maintain its appeal.