Computer science as a school subject has been a regular media subject for more than 20 years. Indeed, all the educational systems of the world are now convinced that today's learners, brought to live in a hyper-scientific society. This research aims to discover the sources of computer difficulties encountered by some nursing students. We used two well-known methods of analysis: the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) and the Pencil/Paper Questionnaire. Data obtained revealed that the prerequisites are overestimated because the notions learned in high school are forgotten and that the basic notions of computer science seem to present difficulties for these learners. The results of the questionnaire and the NGT are similar and complementary. It becomes clear that using NGT and the questionnaire are efficient tools to diagnose the difficulties and obstacles of nursing students. The NGT can be used not only in identifying students’ problems with scientific notions in computer science, but also in other subjects.
Keywords: Questionnaire, difficulties, obstacles, computer science, nursing students.
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