The perceived benefits of a virtual community: effects of learning style, race, ethnicity, and frequency of use on nursing students.

Background: It is important for nursing faculty to consider the variability in learning style among nursing students.

Aim: The researchers sought to compare differences in perceived learning benefits among nursing students who had different learning styles and in frequency of use of a virtual community learning intervention. METHOD Using a comparative approach, learning style was measured with the Kolb Learning Style Inventory. Frequency of use and benefit were measured with an exit survey.

Results: No differences in perceived benefit were found according to learning style. Subjects with frequent use of the virtual community reported significantly greater learning benefits than those with infrequent use, regardless of learning style. Also found was a statistically significant relationship between Kolb learning-style scores and race or ethnicity.

Conclusion: All nursing students may potentially benefit from virtual community use.