Impact of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic on medical students and faculty members: A cross-sectional study from Majmaah University, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Introduction: During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all prospective of life have been affected by the situation. As a result of which, many universities adopted the online way of teaching instead of the traditional classroom teaching or by blending both together. This study was carried out with the objective to assess the perception of teachers and students regarding classes taken online versus those taken in the classroom. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among students and faculty members of the medical college at Majmaah University, KSA, from October 2020 to April 2021. Results: The study found that the majority of teachers have disagreed (91%) that online classes were more effective than classroom mode, and regarding the overall perception of teachers for classes taken online and in the classroom, 62% of teachers agreed that online classes were better than classroom mode, whereas 38% disagreed; 61% of students agreed that online classes were better than classroom mode, and 39% disagreed. Conclusion: Educational institutions should be ready to handle pandemic-like situations without disrupting educational activities and to achieve this, appropriate training of the faculty members and students should be carried out to make online teaching effective and also to minimise any associated disturbing factors.