Taking a Leap of Faith: A Study of Abruptly Transitioning an Undergraduate Medical Education Program to Distance-Learning Owing to the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced universities worldwide to immediately transition to distance-learning. Although numerous studies have investigated the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on universities in the Middle East, none have reflected on the process through which medical education pr...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JMIR Publications
2021-07-01
|
| Series: | JMIR Medical Education |
| Online Access: | https://mededu.jmir.org/2021/3/e27010 |
| _version_ | 1827859190364766208 |
|---|---|
| author | Stefan S Du Plessis Farah Otaki Shroque Zaher Nabil Zary Ibrahim Inuwa Ritu Lakhtakia |
| author_facet | Stefan S Du Plessis Farah Otaki Shroque Zaher Nabil Zary Ibrahim Inuwa Ritu Lakhtakia |
| author_sort | Stefan S Du Plessis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced universities worldwide to immediately transition to distance-learning. Although numerous studies have investigated the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on universities in the Middle East, none have reflected on the process through which medical education programs for health professions underwent this transition. This study aimed to elucidate the rapid transition to distance-learning of an undergraduate medical program at the College of Medicine, Mohammad Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (Dubai, United Arab Emirates), owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. An action research approach constituted the foundation of this collaborative effort that involved investigations, reflections, and improvements of practice, through ongoing cycles of planning, acting, observing, and reflecting. Efforts of transitioning to distance-learning were grouped into four interrelated aspects: supporting faculty members in delivering the program content, managing curriculum changes, engaging with the students to facilitate distance-learning experiences, and conducting web-based assessments. Challenges included the high perceived uncertainty, need for making ad hoc decisions, lack of experiential learning and testing of clinical skills, and blurring of work-life boundaries. Our preliminary findings show the successful generation of a strong existing digital base, future prospects for innovation, and a cohesive team that was key to agility, rapid decision-making, and program implementation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:05:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d5527b09fcc94b12b02539317d67ae39 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2369-3762 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:05:47Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-d5527b09fcc94b12b02539317d67ae392023-08-28T17:07:45ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Medical Education2369-37622021-07-0173e2701010.2196/27010Taking a Leap of Faith: A Study of Abruptly Transitioning an Undergraduate Medical Education Program to Distance-Learning Owing to the COVID-19 PandemicStefan S Du Plessishttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4617-4367Farah Otakihttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8944-4948Shroque Zaherhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1836-6134Nabil Zaryhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8999-6999Ibrahim Inuwahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4024-657XRitu Lakhtakiahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3549-9986 The COVID-19 pandemic has forced universities worldwide to immediately transition to distance-learning. Although numerous studies have investigated the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on universities in the Middle East, none have reflected on the process through which medical education programs for health professions underwent this transition. This study aimed to elucidate the rapid transition to distance-learning of an undergraduate medical program at the College of Medicine, Mohammad Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (Dubai, United Arab Emirates), owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. An action research approach constituted the foundation of this collaborative effort that involved investigations, reflections, and improvements of practice, through ongoing cycles of planning, acting, observing, and reflecting. Efforts of transitioning to distance-learning were grouped into four interrelated aspects: supporting faculty members in delivering the program content, managing curriculum changes, engaging with the students to facilitate distance-learning experiences, and conducting web-based assessments. Challenges included the high perceived uncertainty, need for making ad hoc decisions, lack of experiential learning and testing of clinical skills, and blurring of work-life boundaries. Our preliminary findings show the successful generation of a strong existing digital base, future prospects for innovation, and a cohesive team that was key to agility, rapid decision-making, and program implementation.https://mededu.jmir.org/2021/3/e27010 |
| spellingShingle | Stefan S Du Plessis Farah Otaki Shroque Zaher Nabil Zary Ibrahim Inuwa Ritu Lakhtakia Taking a Leap of Faith: A Study of Abruptly Transitioning an Undergraduate Medical Education Program to Distance-Learning Owing to the COVID-19 Pandemic JMIR Medical Education |
| title | Taking a Leap of Faith: A Study of Abruptly Transitioning an Undergraduate Medical Education Program to Distance-Learning Owing to the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full | Taking a Leap of Faith: A Study of Abruptly Transitioning an Undergraduate Medical Education Program to Distance-Learning Owing to the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Taking a Leap of Faith: A Study of Abruptly Transitioning an Undergraduate Medical Education Program to Distance-Learning Owing to the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Taking a Leap of Faith: A Study of Abruptly Transitioning an Undergraduate Medical Education Program to Distance-Learning Owing to the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_short | Taking a Leap of Faith: A Study of Abruptly Transitioning an Undergraduate Medical Education Program to Distance-Learning Owing to the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_sort | taking a leap of faith a study of abruptly transitioning an undergraduate medical education program to distance learning owing to the covid 19 pandemic |
| url | https://mededu.jmir.org/2021/3/e27010 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT stefansduplessis takingaleapoffaithastudyofabruptlytransitioninganundergraduatemedicaleducationprogramtodistancelearningowingtothecovid19pandemic AT farahotaki takingaleapoffaithastudyofabruptlytransitioninganundergraduatemedicaleducationprogramtodistancelearningowingtothecovid19pandemic AT shroquezaher takingaleapoffaithastudyofabruptlytransitioninganundergraduatemedicaleducationprogramtodistancelearningowingtothecovid19pandemic AT nabilzary takingaleapoffaithastudyofabruptlytransitioninganundergraduatemedicaleducationprogramtodistancelearningowingtothecovid19pandemic AT ibrahiminuwa takingaleapoffaithastudyofabruptlytransitioninganundergraduatemedicaleducationprogramtodistancelearningowingtothecovid19pandemic AT ritulakhtakia takingaleapoffaithastudyofabruptlytransitioninganundergraduatemedicaleducationprogramtodistancelearningowingtothecovid19pandemic |