PARADIGM SHIFT IN THE MEDICAL UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING LEARNING METHODS AND ASSESSMENT IN THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC TIME

Abstract

Background: Medical education has experienced a sea of change in the last decade. Covid- 19 pandemic has catalysed a drastic change in the learning experience from traditional classroom teaching to virtual education. Methods:After 4 months of online teaching at our institute, an online survey based research study was conducted on the perceptions of students and faculty of our department about online teaching. Results:Atotal of 215 students consented to participate. 63.72% felt that the clarity of presentation and audibility was good. 25.11% of students faced major problems with net connectivity. However 51.1% felt that their interaction with other students was less and 27.4% felt that their interaction with faculty was less in online classes when compared to traditional class room.34% were satised and 41.8% gave an equivocal response to satisfaction with online teaching. 12 faculty members participated in the survey. 58.33% of the faculty felt condent in meeting the technical demands of online teaching.41.66% opined that the level of student participation was less in online class. 66.66% experienced difculty in keeping their students involved in the online class. 83.33% appreciated the institutional support. 91.66% of the faculty enjoyed their new experience of teaching online. Conclusion:The students appreciated the efforts of the faculty and management in imparting education virtually as a viable option in the pandemic time. Teachers also echoed the same opinion. Blended learning could be used to enhance and complement the formal face to face teaching in medical education in the years to come.