Impact of In‐person and Remote Class Attendance on Student Performance in a Required Course

Abstract

Our University implemented many changes to ensure safe environment for all members of our community during the pandemic. The students were given the opportunity to choose between attending class sessions and taking exams in person (in the classroom) or remotely (from off-campus locations). The impact of in-person and remote synchronous class attendance on student performance is largely unknown thus our objective was to explore it. We tested the hypothesis that in-person class attendance may have more beneficial effects on student performance than remote class attendance in a required course. We conducted a retrospective, quantitative study in Principles of Drug Action course, a required integrated pharmacology/medicinal chemistry course in Pharm.D. curriculum, traditionally offered exclusively in person. Mean overall scores on baseline knowledge test (a control for student background knowledge before entering Pharm.D. program), exams, individual quizzes, and total course performance were analyzed for students attending the class sessions in person and remotely (total of 88 and 50 students, respectively). In addition, lecture recording accessions were analyzed and compared. The student performances were analyzed using t-test. Differences were considered significant if p<0.05. The mean overall performances on exams (78.2% vs. 72.7%, p<0.05) and course totals (81.6% vs. 77.4%, p<0.05), but not on individual quizzes (65.5% vs. 62.9%, p=0.43) were significantly higher for students attending class sessions in person versus those attending remotely. No difference was detected in the mean performances between these student groups on the baseline knowledge test. The students attending class sessions in person spent less time accessing the lecture recordings than those attending remotely (average 352 min vs. 525 min, respectively). In-person class attendance led to better student performances on major course assessments and overall course grades compared to remote class attendance. These results suggest that in-person classes may be more beneficial and impactful for student learning in this and possibly other courses and may be considered when making decisions about class attendance in the future.