IS ONLINE LEARNING A BETTER ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL TEACHING FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS - A STUDY IN LIGHT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

Aim And Objective: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused an unprecedented disruption in medical education and healthcare systems worldwide. In India, responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in medical education resulted in closures of medical colleges and adoption of online teaching-learning methods, which is challenging for both faculty and students. Rising concerns among students urged to evaluate strength and weakness of ongoing online teaching and learning methods. The objective of the study was to nd out the perceptions of students regarding E-learning during lockdown period of COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted at IPGME & R Kolkata. A sample size of 600 was calculated. MBBS students of all levels participated in this study. A Google questionnaire was developed and was validated by Medical education unit of the college. The Google questionnaire was mailed to the students. The data was transferred to excel sheet and analysis was done on various parameters to derive descriptive statistics between classroom teaching and online teaching Results: Total 600responses were received. 340 (56.7%) males and 260(43.3%) females participated in the study. 41.7% students use mobile phones as their gadgets for E- learning and 33.3% use laptops followed by desktop (16.7%) and tablet (8.3%) Overall only 10 % students preferred to use only E- learning. 50% students preferred classical didactic learning. And 40% preferred a combination of classical ofine and E - learning as useful method of learning. Conclusions: Students did not prefer E- learning over classroom learning. They admit the usefulness of E -learning. But, classroom learning with rational use of E -learning is preferred by the students.