The Impact of COVID-19 on Faculty Technological Knowledge Development at an Academic Medical Center

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the learning environments of 1.3 billion students worldwide, particularly as many traditional, in-person classes moved to virtual learning. This mixed-methods study surveyed and interviewed faculty within a US academic medical center to determine whether the pandemic stimulated technological knowledge growth. While the study collected both quantitative and qualitative data, priority was given to qualitative interview data to control for a small sample size and to gather in-depth insights. Data collection began approximately 18 months after the onset of the pandemic that occurred in spring 2020. Qualitative results garnered five major themes: collective decision-making and individual autonomy, flexible learning in the new normal, challenges with student engagement in the long-distance relationship, faculty well-being in the age of COVID-19, and opportunities evolved from challenges. Quantitative results indicated that significant differences existed between faculty self-rated competency levels of performing technology-related tasks in the pre-pandemic period and in the current period, suggesting technology knowledge gains from the forced transition to online teaching. Future research is needed to survey a broader audience and to determine whether faculty will continue to utilize technological resources learned during this pandemic to supplement in-person teaching as well as to establish a future contingency plan.