Background: Active learning involves use of different student centered teaching strategies. Whereby, students are actively engaged in building and understanding complex concepts through different activities. Interactive activities and discussions in classes create a productive environment for students’ that promotes critical thinking. AL strategies are used in medical and other teaching disciplines at some institutes in Pakistan.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of nursing students regarding AL in undergraduate nursing degree programs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Pakistan.
Methodology: Cross sectional descriptive design was used to conduct this study. Sample size was 173 students from different nursing institutes, of KPK, Pakistan. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaire analyzed using SPSS version 19, and STATA version 12.
Results: Out of 173 students, the majority students were female, 52% of students were enrolled in BScN, program as compared to 48% in Post RN BScN program. About 65% of students were from private institutes, and 58.4% of students shared that they have good understanding of AL strategies. Majority of them perceived that AL enhance students understanding of content.
Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that students have positive perception for active learning strategies, and negative perception for traditional learning strategies. Active learning strategies need to be utilized more in class room as well as in clinical teaching.