Satisfaction with online learning in the new normal

Perspective of students and faculty at medical and health sciences colleges

Bibliographic Data

ID15328804
AuthorsWiam Elshami (0000-0003-1342-7452, University of Sharjah), Mohamed H Taha (0000-0003-0808-5590, University of Sharjah, corresponding author), Mohamed Abuzaid (0000-0002-6320-9878, University of Sharjah), Coumaravelou Saravanan (0000-0003-2300-1957, University of Sharjah), Sausan Al Kawas (0000-0001-6118-4382, University of Sharjah), Mohamed Elhassan Abdalla (0000-0002-9241-1370, University of Limerick)
Year2021
Volume26
Issue1
Pages1920090-1920090
Publication date2021-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMedical Education Online (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1087-2981 • E-ISSN: 1087-2981
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10872981.2021.1920090
PMID33974523
OpenAlexW3161099086
LanguageEN
Citations received42
References cited50

Online learning has become the new normal in many medical and health science schools worldwide, courtesy of COVID-19. Satisfaction with online learning is a significant aspect of promoting successful educational processes. This study aimed to identify factors affecting student and faculty satisfaction with online learning during the new normal. Online questionnaires were emailed to students (n = 370) and faculty (n = 81) involved in online learning during the pandemic. The questionnaires included closed- and open-ended questions and were organised into two parts: socio-demographic information and satisfaction with online learning. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the responses to the satisfaction scales. Students' and faculty responses to the open-ended questions were analysed using the thematic analysis method. The response rate was 97.8% for students and 86.4% for faculty. Overall satisfaction among students was 41.3% compared to 74.3% for faculty. The highest areas of satisfaction for students were communication and flexibility, whereas 92.9% of faculty were satisfied with students' enthusiasm for online learning. Technical problems led to reduced student satisfaction, while faculty were hampered by the higher workload and the required time to prepare the teaching and assessment materials. Study-load and workload, enhancing engagement, and technical issues (SWEET) were the themes that emerged from the thematic analysis as affecting student and faculty satisfaction. Adopting a combination synchronous and asynchronous approach, incorporating different applications to engage students, and timely feedback are imperative to increasing student satisfaction, while institutional support and organisational policy could enhance faculty satisfaction

Descriptive statistics · Distance education · Flexibility (engineering · Health care · Mathematics education · Medical education · Qualitative research · Sociology · Thematic analysis · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Educational Innovations and Technology · Medicine · Online and Blended Learning · Psychology

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