Perception Of Medical Students Towards Online Teaching: A Questionnaire Study

Abstract

Background: The COVID -19, a novel coronavirus disease spreading across the globe, most countries including India have ordered the closure of all educational institutions which has put the academic calendar to a functional standstill. The pandemic forced many institutions to shift to online mode using Google meet, Zoom, Microsoft teams, etc. The teaching-learning methodologies have been revamped globally due to the covid outbreak that many schools and teachers around the world are coping with alternative ways for delivery of instructions. In spite of its multiple advantages, there are quite a few limitations faced by online teaching such as lack of student-teacher interaction, social isolation, network connectivity issues, etc. The deviation from traditional teaching to online teaching prompted this study to assess the perceptions of students towards online learning. Aim: The purpose of the study was to determine the perceptions of medical students towards online teaching during the lockdown Materials and Methods: After obtaining approval from the institutional ethical committee, the questionnaire-based study was conducted on 150 first-year medical students of Adichunchanagiri Institute of medical sciences, B G Nagara. The data obtained were statistically analyzed and tabulated. Results: Responses have clearly shown that students prefer the traditional method of teaching such as lecture, discussion, etc. over online classes due to multiple issues faced during online teaching. Conclusion: Online teaching is the most common method and the best platform to keep learners/students engaged and safe during the lockdown period for Covid-19. Despite being in the technological era, students are still more inclined towards face-to-face teaching rather than e-teaching due to various reasons. Administration and faculty members should take appropriate measures to improve e-teaching quality and help students in better learning. KEY WORDS: Perception, Students, online teaching.