With the New Challenges of COVID- 19, Can We Depend Entirely on Online Learning for Higher Education in the Medical Schools?

Mohammad I Jumaa,1 Safaa M Hanafy,1 Mostafa A Arafa2,3 1Anatomy Department, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2The Cancer Research Chair, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3High Institute of Public Health, Ale...

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Main Authors: Jumaa MI, Hanafy SM, Arafa MA
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2022-08-01
Series:Advances in Medical Education and Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/with-the-new-challenges-of-covid--19-can-we-depend-entirely-on-online--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-AMEP
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author Jumaa MI
Hanafy SM
Arafa MA
author_facet Jumaa MI
Hanafy SM
Arafa MA
author_sort Jumaa MI
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description Mohammad I Jumaa,1 Safaa M Hanafy,1 Mostafa A Arafa2,3 1Anatomy Department, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2The Cancer Research Chair, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, EgyptCorrespondence: Mohammad I Jumaa, Assistant professor, Anatomy Department, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), P.O. Box: 7544 – Othman Bin Affan Road Al-Nada, Riyadh 4233-13317, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966542253151, Email migomaa@imamu.edu.saBackground: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, medical education has gone online. Human anatomy is a three-dimensional subject that requires a clear understanding of the relationships between structures through the study of human cadavers, microscopic samples, and models.Objective: This study aimed to examine the attitudes and perceptions of students regarding teaching anatomy before and after the lockdown period and ways of improving the challenges they faced.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at AL Imam University School of Medicine. Structured surveys were designed to understand students’ attitudes and opinions towards offline versus online teaching of anatomy and suggestions to improve the online teaching process.Results: The mean attitude scores for the conventional lectures, seminars, and practical sessions were significantly higher. Students expressed positive attitudes towards the three teaching modules. Students agreed that themes related to computer skills and technical Internet infrastructure (71.55%) and administrative procedures (61.74%) are essential for improving the online teaching process.Conclusion: Conventional learning is the main target of student learning. Improvements in computer skills, technical Internet infrastructure, learning resources, staff communication, examinations, and development of blended learning will enrich the learning process, especially during the impending challenges.Keywords: online learning, anatomy, COVID-19, challenges
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spelling doaj.art-10fa1896f4364eddbb019b418b0069fb2022-12-22T02:44:47ZengDove Medical PressAdvances in Medical Education and Practice1179-72582022-08-01Volume 1382983777190With the New Challenges of COVID- 19, Can We Depend Entirely on Online Learning for Higher Education in the Medical Schools?Jumaa MIHanafy SMArafa MAMohammad I Jumaa,1 Safaa M Hanafy,1 Mostafa A Arafa2,3 1Anatomy Department, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2The Cancer Research Chair, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, EgyptCorrespondence: Mohammad I Jumaa, Assistant professor, Anatomy Department, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), P.O. Box: 7544 – Othman Bin Affan Road Al-Nada, Riyadh 4233-13317, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966542253151, Email migomaa@imamu.edu.saBackground: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, medical education has gone online. Human anatomy is a three-dimensional subject that requires a clear understanding of the relationships between structures through the study of human cadavers, microscopic samples, and models.Objective: This study aimed to examine the attitudes and perceptions of students regarding teaching anatomy before and after the lockdown period and ways of improving the challenges they faced.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at AL Imam University School of Medicine. Structured surveys were designed to understand students’ attitudes and opinions towards offline versus online teaching of anatomy and suggestions to improve the online teaching process.Results: The mean attitude scores for the conventional lectures, seminars, and practical sessions were significantly higher. Students expressed positive attitudes towards the three teaching modules. Students agreed that themes related to computer skills and technical Internet infrastructure (71.55%) and administrative procedures (61.74%) are essential for improving the online teaching process.Conclusion: Conventional learning is the main target of student learning. Improvements in computer skills, technical Internet infrastructure, learning resources, staff communication, examinations, and development of blended learning will enrich the learning process, especially during the impending challenges.Keywords: online learning, anatomy, COVID-19, challengeshttps://www.dovepress.com/with-the-new-challenges-of-covid--19-can-we-depend-entirely-on-online--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-AMEPonline learninganatomycovid-19challenges.
spellingShingle Jumaa MI
Hanafy SM
Arafa MA
With the New Challenges of COVID- 19, Can We Depend Entirely on Online Learning for Higher Education in the Medical Schools?
Advances in Medical Education and Practice
online learning
anatomy
covid-19
challenges.
title With the New Challenges of COVID- 19, Can We Depend Entirely on Online Learning for Higher Education in the Medical Schools?
title_full With the New Challenges of COVID- 19, Can We Depend Entirely on Online Learning for Higher Education in the Medical Schools?
title_fullStr With the New Challenges of COVID- 19, Can We Depend Entirely on Online Learning for Higher Education in the Medical Schools?
title_full_unstemmed With the New Challenges of COVID- 19, Can We Depend Entirely on Online Learning for Higher Education in the Medical Schools?
title_short With the New Challenges of COVID- 19, Can We Depend Entirely on Online Learning for Higher Education in the Medical Schools?
title_sort with the new challenges of covid 19 can we depend entirely on online learning for higher education in the medical schools
topic online learning
anatomy
covid-19
challenges.
url https://www.dovepress.com/with-the-new-challenges-of-covid--19-can-we-depend-entirely-on-online--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-AMEP
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