Is Online Teaching in the First Two Years of the Medical School During the COVID-19 Pandemic Serving the Purpose? 

Abstract BackgroundCOVID-19 pandemic has required a major and rapid shift in teaching and training methods across health professions education. Physical distancing and closure of campuses required online teaching to replace face-to-face teaching. This study aims to investigate if online teaching implemented in the first two years of the medical school at Avalon University School of Medicine is serving the purpose during the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsThis is a concurrent mixed research method. The quantitative data collected are course evaluations and students’ performance in assessments between the two semesters September 2019 and May 2020, which had on-campus and online teaching, respectively. Qualitative data were collected using individual interviews of 19 faculty members and students. The quantitative data were analyzed for p-values and statistical significance using a t-test. The qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. ResultsResults have shown no statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between two semesters for course evaluations. Even if there is any difference, the mean values were better in May 2020 semester with online teaching. There was no statistically significant difference (p<0.05) even on students’ performance in assessments except for two courses. The thematic analysis of interviews revealed the advantages and disadvantages of online teaching. ConclusionsOnline teaching is serving the purpose in the first two years of the medical school during the COVID-19 pandemic. The advantages of online teaching are flexibility and comfort, and students can save time. The disadvantages are technical challenges, students lacking motivation, lack of personal interaction, and limitations on lab and hands-on experiences.