Web-Based Learning for Children in Pediatric Care: Qualitative Study Assessing Educational Challenges

Abstract

Learning is seen as an active construction process and the individual´s life world is the basis for the individual´s understanding, thinking and action [1, 2]. Learning is a meaning making construction process about new or modified interpretations of perceptions and experiences and involves the whole person. Meaning, knowledge and understanding are created based on different kinds of information, data and by and in interaction with people, artifacts and the environment [2, 3]. No one can passively

Children's own perspectives demonstrate the need to improve paediatric perioperative care

“…The actual interactive website was to a high extent used by the confident children in this study. In another study, the interactive website was analysed based on a pedagogical framework (Lööf, Andersson‐Papadogiannakis, Karlgren, & Silén, ). The analysis showed that an interactive website offer possibilities for children to learn by building on their own curiosity and interest, identification with others experiences and by getting answers related to their concerns.…”

“…Even though children are prepared for the expected procedures, they most likely will be exposed to new, unexpected experiences highlighting the importance of not restricting children's need of information and preparation to a single event. A continuous process signified by individualized adjustments and flexibility recognizing that children need to process the information received to fully understand and be prepared has to be provided (Lööf et al, ).…”

Children’s Use of and Experiences With a Web-Based Perioperative Preparation Program: Directed Content Analysis

“…The aim is to describe common themes characterizing the object being studied. The directed content analysis approach in this study builds on a previous investigation [ 18 ] that provided a theoretical basis of children’s learning on a website. This approach is judged to be appropriate since the analysis is operationalized based on previous knowledge that would benefit from further refinement or development.…”

“…Learning is a multifaceted phenomenon that requires processing of information cognitively, emotionally, and socially through testing and practical actions [ 21 , 22 ]. The learning concepts of preunderstanding, motivation, learning processes, and learning outcomes, which were previously used in a theoretical analysis of a Web-based preparation program for children [ 18 ], are used in this study to analyze and describe children’s approach to a website consisting of a comprehensive, interactive, age-differentiated multimedia Web-based portal aimed to prepare and educate children and their families before pediatric perioperative care (see Multimedia Appendix 1 for further explanation of central learning concepts).…”

“…To take advantage of Web-based technology as a learning resource for children in pediatric care, there is a need to understand how children use and learn from Web-based preparation programs. A previous theoretical analysis of a Web-based preparation program related to the central learning concepts of preunderstanding, motivation, learning processes, and learning outcome resulted in four themes (in charge of my learning, discover and play, recognize and identify, and getting feedback) important for children’s learning with Web-based technology prior to contact with pediatric care [ 18 ].…”