Revisiting early online learning experiences amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia: Benefits, barriers, and impact on pharmacy student learning outcomes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2022.221.989996Keywords:
COVID-19, Health education, Online learning, Pharmacy studentAbstract
Background: The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) imposed dramatic changes on pharmacy education. On-campus educational activities were suspended and transformed into online learning. Several studies reported experiences with online learning, yet few evaluated overall student acceptance and achievement of online learning.
Objective: This study aimed to explore the benefits, barriers, pharmacy student learning achievement, and their recommendation towards an online learning model.
Methods: A survey was conducted among 1,658 pharmacy students from 28 provinces in Indonesia using an online questionnaire that passed validity and reliability testing. Descriptive analyses were conducted subsequently.
Results: Of the total sample, 85% viewed that online learning was the compelling option to continue education due to the COVID-19 travel restriction. Poor internet connectivity was the most relevant hurdle reported by two-thirds of respondents. Learning achievement was negatively affected, as the majority reported poor ability to understand the course material from lectures and laboratory practicum. In addition, the lack of class engagement was evident as students and lecturers were not prepared and adapted for virtual interaction.
Conclusion: Online learning is a feasible method in the short term as it is practical and prevents COVID-19’s spread. However, this may be problematic in the longer term since it has negatively affected students’ overall performance. Some improvements can be undertaken, such as creating an engaging discussion during virtual teaching in combination with investments in better internet networks and computer access.
References
Alavudeen, S. S., Easwaran, V., Mir, J. I., Shahrani, S. M., Aseeri, A. A., Khan, N. A., Almodeer, A. M., & Asiri, A. A. (2021). The influence of COVID-19 related psychological and demographic variables on the effectiveness of e-learning among health care students in the southern region of Saudi Arabia. Saudi pharmaceutical journal, 29(7), 775–780. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsps.2021.05.009
Ali, M., Allihyani, M., Abdulaziz, A., Alansari, S., Faqeh, S., Kurdi, A., & Alhajjaji, A. (2021). What just happened? Impact of on-campus activities suspension on pharmacy education during COVID-19 lockdown - A students' perspective. Saudi pharmaceutical journal, 29(1), 59–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsps.2020.12.008
Altwaijry, N., Ibrahim, A., Binsuwaidan, R., Alnajjar, L. I., Alsfouk, B. A., & Almutairi, R. (2021). Distance Education During COVID-19 Pandemic: A College of Pharmacy Experience. Risk management and healthcare policy, 14, 2099–2110. https://doi.org/10.2147/RMHP.S308998
Baber, H. (2021). Modelling the acceptance of e-learning during the pandemic of COVID-19-A study of South Korea. The International Journal of Management Education, 19(2), 100503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2021.100503
Bani Hani, A., Hijazein, Y., Hadadin, H., Jarkas, A. K., Al-Tamimi, Z., Amarin, M., Shatarat, A., Abu Abeeleh, M., & Al-Taher, R. (2021). E-Learning during COVID-19 pandemic; Turning a crisis into opportunity: A cross-sectional study at The University of Jordan. Annals of medicine and surgery (2012), 70, 102882. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2021.102882
Basilaia, G., & Kvavadze, D. (2020). Transition to online education in schools during a SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Georgia. Pedagogical Research, 5(4), em0060. https://doi.org/10.29333/pr/7937
Elsalem, L., Al-Azzam, N., Jum'ah, A. A., Obeidat, N., Sindiani, A. M., & Kheirallah, K. A. (2020). Stress and behavioral changes with remote E-exams during the Covid-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study among undergraduates of medical sciences. Annals of medicine and surgery (2012), 60, 271–279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2020.10.058
Grønlien, H. K., Christoffersen, T. E., Ringstad, Ø., Andreassen, M., & Lugo, R. G. (2021). A blended learning teaching strategy strengthens the nursing students' performance and self-reported learning outcome achievement in an anatomy, physiology and biochemistry course - A quasi-experimental study. Nurse education in practice, 52, 103046. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2021.103046
Handal, B., Groenlund, C., & Gerzina, T. (2011). Academic perceptions amongst educators towards eLearning tools in dental education. International dental journal, 61(2), 70–75. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1875-595X.2011.00017.x
Hoque, M. N., Hannan, A., Imran, S., Alam, M. A., Matubber, B., & Saha, S. M. (2021). Anxiety and Its Determinants among Undergraduate Students during E-learning in Bangladesh Amid Covid-19. Journal of affective disorders reports, 6, 100241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100241
Hossain, M. J., Ahmmed, F., Rahman, S. M. A., Sanam, S., Emran, T. B., & Mitra, S. (2021). Impact of online education on fear of academic delay and psychological distress among university students following one year of COVID-19 outbreak in Bangladesh. Heliyon, 7(6), e07388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07388
Ibrahim, N. K., Al Raddadi, R., AlDarmasi, M., Al Ghamdi, A., Gaddoury, M., AlBar, H. M., & Ramadan, I. K. (2021). Medical students' acceptance and perceptions of e-learning during the Covid-19 closure time in King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah. Journal of infection and public health, 14(1), 17–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jiph.2020.11.007
Irawan, A. W., Dwisona, D., & Lestari, M. (2020). Psychological Impacts of Students on Online Learning During the Pandemic COVID-19. KONSELI: Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling (E-Journal), 7(1), 53-60. https://doi.org/10.24042/kons.v7i1.6389
Kim, S. H., & Park, S. (2021). Influence of learning flow and distance e-learning satisfaction on learning outcomes and the moderated mediation effect of social-evaluative anxiety in nursing college students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study. Nurse education in practice, 56, 103197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2021.103197
Kyaw, B. M., Posadzki, P., Paddock, S., Car, J., Campbell, J., & Tudor Car, L. (2019). Effectiveness of Digital Education on Communication Skills Among Medical Students: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis by the Digital Health Education Collaboration. Journal of medical Internet research, 21(8), e12967. https://doi.org/10.2196/12967
McCutcheon, K., Lohan, M., Traynor, M., & Martin, D. (2015). A systematic review evaluating the impact of online or blended learning vs. face-to-face learning of clinical skills in undergraduate nurse education. Journal of advanced nursing, 71(2), 255–270. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.12509
Moore, R., Purvis, R., Bogulski, C., Maddox, T., Haggard-Duff, L., Schulz, T., ... & McElfish, P. (2021). Learning during COVID-19: rapid E-learning transition at a regional medical school campus. Journal of Regional Medical Campuses, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.24926/jrmc.v4i2.3645
Mouratidis, K., & Papagiannakis, A. (2021). COVID-19, internet, and mobility: The rise of telework, telehealth, e-learning, and e-shopping. Sustainable cities and society, 74, 103182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2021.103182
Muflih, S., Abuhammad, S., Al-Azzam, S., Alzoubi, K. H., Muflih, M., & Karasneh, R. (2021). Online learning for undergraduate health professional education during COVID-19: Jordanian medical students' attitudes and perceptions. Heliyon, 7(9), e08031. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08031
Oyediran, W. O., Omoare, A. M., Owoyemi, M. A., Adejobi, A. O., & Fasasi, R. B. (2020). Prospects and limitations of e-learning application in private tertiary institutions amidst COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria. Heliyon, 6(11), e05457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05457
Pei, L., & Wu, H. (2019). Does online learning work better than offline learning in undergraduate medical education? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medical education online, 24(1), 1666538. https://doi.org/10.1080/10872981.2019.1666538
Potu, B. K., Atwa, H., Nasr El-Din, W. A., Othman, M. A., Sarwani, N. A., Fatima, A., Deifalla, A., & Fadel, R. A. (2022). Learning anatomy before and during COVID-19 pandemic: Students' perceptions and exam performance. Morphologie, 106(354), 188–194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.morpho.2021.07.003
Priyastama, R. (2017). Buku sakti kuasai SPSS, pengolahan data & analisis data
Roman, M., & Plopeanu, A. P. (2021). The effectiveness of the emergency eLearning during COVID-19 pandemic. The case of higher education in economics in Romania. International Review of Economics Education, 37, 100218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iree.2021.100218
Suwannaphisit, S., Anusitviwat, C., Hongnaparak, T., & Bvonpanttarananon, J. (2021). Expectations on online orthopedic course using constructivism theory: A cross-sectional study among medical students. Annals of medicine and surgery (2012), 67, 102493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2021.102493
Vellingiri, B., Jayaramayya, K., Iyer, M., Narayanasamy, A., Govindasamy, V., Giridharan, B., Ganesan, S., Venugopal, A., Venkatesan, D., Ganesan, H., Rajagopalan, K., Rahman, P. K. S. M., Cho, S. G., Kumar, N. S., & Subramaniam, M. D. (2020). COVID-19: A promising cure for the global panic. The Science of the total environment, 725, 138277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138277
Yekefallah, L., Namdar, P., Panahi, R., & Dehghankar, L. (2021). Factors related to students' satisfaction with holding e-learning during the Covid-19 pandemic based on the dimensions of e-learning. Heliyon, 7(7), e07628. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07628
Zhou, L., Wu, S., Zhou, M., & Li, F. (2020). 'School’s out, but class’ on', the largest online education in the world today: Taking China’s practical exploration during The COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control as an example. Best Evidence of Chinese Education, 4(2):501–19. https://doi.org/10.15354/bece.20.ar023
