Differences between students in various programs in a biochemistry course in lecture attendance, engagement, and academic outcomes.

Abstract

The positive relationship between lecture attendance and academic outcomes may be changing in the era of lecturing recordings. The objective of the study was to test this and to determine whether it varied between student cohorts. Consenting students in biochemistry from pharmacy, biomedical science, medical laboratory science, and nutrition programs, which had access to lecture recordings, signed in when attending lectures. Attendance was related to academic outcomes by regression analysis. Average attendance was low (≤19%) and declined significantly between years for most weeks. The students who attended ≥50% of lectures (≤17%) had higher marks than those that attended <50%. Overall regression analysis showed there were positive associations between most academic outcomes and lecture attendance or engagement (attendance and lecture recording access). However, these associations were weak or moderate for students in the pharmacy and biomedical science programs and were not apparent for students in the medical laboratory science and nutrition programs. In a separate survey, the most common reason for attending lectures was "I think I learn more by attending" and for not attending, was "Work commitments made it difficult to get to lectures." The main conclusion is that students of biochemistry should be encouraged to attend lectures, as the limited evidence suggests that attendance may still be associated with better academic outcomes and that some students find them beneficial.