Investigation of university students' attitudes toward web-based distance education in terms of theoretical and applied courses during the COVID-19 pandemic period

Abstract

University students had to switch from face-to-face education to web-based distance education (WBDE) owing to new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. While theoretical courses can be provided properly with WBDE, it has been thought that applied courses cannot be sustained effectively by the same way. University students’ attitudes toward WBDE regarding theoretical and applied courses taught in physiotherapy and rehabilitation department has not been investigated yet, which was therefore aimed in current study. This cross-sectional study included university students (n=180, 20.14±1.57 years) who still maintain actively WBDE at Izmir Democracy University, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department. “Scale for Evaluating Students’ Attitudes/Opinions/Thoughts Regarding Applied and Theoretical Courses in Distance Education” was generated by the researchers and performed through online platform. Scale comprised 26 items. Each item is scored as from 5 (completely agree) to 1 (strongly disagree). Proper factor analyses were performed and repeated until the items were found to be significant. Factor loads of final 16-item ranged from 0.27 to 0.84. All fit indices (χ2/SD=1.42) were within acceptable limits. One-dimensional structure of scale was confirmed with 16 items. Cronbach Alpha internal consistency coefficient was found to be 0.916, and total correlations of the items varied between 0.422 and 0.772. This scale was found to be highly reliable. Internal consistency between items was high. Maximum score obtained from scale is 80. Total score of students (39.91±10.97) showed that attitudes/opinions/ideas regarding theoretical and applied courses through WBDE were negative. These negative attitudes of students were same according to gender (p>0.05). Attitudes of university students studying at physiotherapy and rehabilitation department through WBDE regarding theoretical and applied courses were negative regardless of gender. This valid and reliable scale should be used to identify need of university students studying at applied sciences about WBDE. Advanced technology products should be urgently synchronized to WBDE.