Pharmacy students' perceptions and satisfaction with blended instruction in quantitative chemical analysis course

Authors

  • Ghassan Sonji School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon
  • Dalal Hammoudi Halat QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar & School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Beqaa, Lebanon
  • Nisreen Mourad School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Beqaa, Lebanon Institut National de Santé Publique, d'Épidémiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie-Liban (INSPECT-LB), Beirut, Lebanon
  • Nada Sonji School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon
  • Zeina Mehyou School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon Biological and Chemical Sciences Department, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon
  • Mohamad Rahal School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Beqaa, Lebanon

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2023.231.269282

Keywords:

Blended learning, Pharmacy students, Quantitave chemical analysis, Students satisfaction

Abstract

Background: Course satisfaction in blended learning has become a priority among educators to keep students on track during their studies. This study investigated the Community of Inquiry (CoI) three key components, i.e. teaching, social, and cognitive presences and other factors that affect student satisfaction at Lebanese International University (LIU).    

Objective: The study aimed to examine pharmacy undergraduate students who enrolled in, and the effect of blended learning courses on learning environment perceptions, learning outcomes, and overall academic performance.    

Methods: Exactly 283 second-year students from a private School of Pharmacy registered in the Quantitative Chemical Analysis course participated in this study. Data were collected using an online survey, assessing students' prior pre-pharmacy course experiences.    

Results: The majority of students (58%) commended the course content, organisation, teaching resources, course design, and clarity of directions. Course satisfaction significantly correlated with age and social, cognitive, and instructional presences (Spearman’s Rho: 0.739-0.750, p < 0.05).    

Discussion: Studies found that blended instruction can improve student engagement, satisfaction, and learning outcomes, which are influenced by the quality of online materials, communication, feedback, and the degree of student and instructor interaction.    

Conclusion: The outcomes of this study support the assumption that blended learning encourages active, in-depth, and self-directed learning.

Author Biographies

Ghassan Sonji, School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon

Pharmaceutical Sciences Department

Dalal Hammoudi Halat, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar & School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Beqaa, Lebanon

Academic Quality Department & Pharmaceutical Sciences Department

Nisreen Mourad, School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Beqaa, Lebanon Institut National de Santé Publique, d'Épidémiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie-Liban (INSPECT-LB), Beirut, Lebanon

Pharmaceutical Sciences Department

Nada Sonji, School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon

Pharmaceutical Sciences Department

Zeina Mehyou, School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon Biological and Chemical Sciences Department, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon

Pharmaceutical Sciences Department

Mohamad Rahal, School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Beqaa, Lebanon

Pharmaceutical Sciences Department

References

Almahasees, Z., Mohsen, K. & Amin, M. O. (2021). Faculty’s and Students’ Perceptions of Online Learning During COVID-19. Frontiers in Education, 6:1–10 https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2021.638470

Almasi, M. & Zhu, C. (2020). Investigating Students’ Perceptions of Cognitive Presence in Relation to Learner Performance in Blended Learning Courses: A Mixed-Methods Approach. The Electronic Journal of eLearning, 18(4):324–336 https://doi.org/10.34190/EJEL.20.18.4.005

Anthony Jr., B., Kamaludin, A., Romli, A., Raffei, A.F.M., Eh Phon, D.N.A.L., Abdullah, A. & Ming, G.L. (2022). Blended Learning Adoption and Implementation in Higher Education: A Theoretical and Systematic Review. Technology, Knowledge and Learning, 27:531–578 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10758-020-09477-z

Arbaugh, J.B., Cleveland-Innes, M., Diaz, S.R., Garrison, D. R., Ice, P., C. Richardson, J. & P. Swan, K. (2008). Developing a community of inquiry instrument: Testing a measure of the Community of Inquiry framework using a multi-institutional sample. The Internet and Higher Education, 11(3):133–136 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iheduc.2008.06.003

Ashraf, M. A., Mollah, S., Perveen, S., Shabnam, N. & Nahar, L. (2022). Pedagogical Applications, Prospects, and Challenges of Blended Learning in Chinese Higher Education: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Psychology, 12:1–13 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.772322

Ashraf, M.A., Tsegay, S.M., & Meijia, Y. (2021). Blended Learning for Diverse Classrooms: Qualitative Experimental Study With In-Service Teachers. SAGE Open, 11(3):1–11 https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211030

Bai, H., Yu, H., Bantsimba N.R. & Luo, L. (2022). How college experiences impact student learning outcomes: Insights from Chinese undergraduate students. Frontiers in Psychology, 13:1–15 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1021591

Balakrishnan, A., Nair, S., Kunhikatta, V., Rashid, M., Unnikrishnan, M.K., Jagannatha, P.S., Chandran, V.P., Khera, K. & Thunga, G. (2021). Effectiveness of blended learning in pharmacy education: An experimental study using clinical research modules. PLOS ONE, 16(9):1–13 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256814

Barlow, A., Brown, S., Lutz, B., Pitterson, N., Hunsu, N. & Adesope, O. (2020). Development of the student course cognitive engagement instrument (SCCEI) for college engineering courses. International Journal of STEM Education, 7(22):1–20 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-020-00220-9

Barrot, J. S., Llenares, I. I. & del Rosario, L. S. (2021). Students’ online learning challenges during the pandemic and how they cope with them: The case of the Philippines. Education and Information Technologie, 26(6):7321–7338 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10589-x

Bryan, T.K., Lutte, R., Lee, J., O’Neil, P., Maher, C.S. & Hoflund, A.B. (2018). When do online education technologies enhance student engagement? A case of distance education at University of Nebraska at Omaha. Journal of Public Affairs Education, 24(2):255–273 https://doi.org/10.1080/15236803.2018.1429817

Cancino, M. & Avila, D. (2021). Switching to Fully Online EFL Learning Environments: An exploratory study on Learners’ perceptions. Journal of Language & Education, 7(3):23–42 https://doi.org/10.17323/jle.2021.12101

Caton, J. B., Chung, S., Adeniji, N., Hom, J., Brar, K., Gallant, A., Bryant, M., Hain, A., Basaviah, P. & Hosamani, P. (2021). Student engagement in the online classroom: Comparing preclinical medical student question‐asking behaviours in a videoconference versus in‐person learning environment. FASEB Bioadvances, 3(2):110–117 https://doi.org/10.1096/fba.2020-00089

Clayson, D. (2022). The student evaluation of teaching and likability: What the evaluations actually measure. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 47(2):313–326 https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2021.1909702

Closs, L., Mahat, M. & Imms, W. (2022). Learning Environments’ influence on Students’ learning experience in an Australian Faculty of Business and Economics. Learning Environments Research, 25:271–285 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10984-022-09410-4

Constantinou, C. & Wijnen-Meijer, M. (2022). Student evaluations of teaching and the development of a comprehensive measure of teaching effectiveness for medical schools. BMC Medical Education, 22(113):1–14 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03148-6

Cronbach, L.J. (1951). Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests. Psychometrika 16, 297–334 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02310555

Cuesta Medina, L. (2018). Blended learning: Deficits and prospects in higher education. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 34(1):42–56 https://doi.org/10.14742/ajet.3100

El-Hawy, L.L., Alssarat, K.A., Dimetry, S.R. & Awad Allah, M. B. (2022). Medical Students’ Satisfaction Regarding Blended Learning during COVID-19 Pandemic. 86(1):645–652 https://doi.org/10.21608/EJHM.2022.215203

Extavour, R. M. & Allison, G. L. (2018). Students’ perceptions of a blended learning pharmacy seminar course in a Caribbean school of pharmacy. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, 10(4):517–522 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2017.12.007

Harb, J. & Krish, P. (2020). Cognitive Presence in a Blended Learning Environment at Jordanian Universities. Arab World English Journal, 11(1):44–51 https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol11no1.4

Heilporn, G., Lakhal, S. & Bélisle, M. (2021). An examination of teachers’ strategies to foster student engagement in blended learning in higher education. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 18(1):1–25 https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-021-00260-3

Huizinga, T., Lohuis, A., Zwerver-Bergman, J. & van der Meer, R. (2022). Student and teacher perceptions of community of inquiry in hybrid virtual classrooms. Heliyon, 8(12):1–10 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12549

Ibrahim, M.M. & Nat, M. (2019). Blended learning motivation model for instructors in higher education institutions. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 16(12):1–21 https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-019-0145-2

Jarab, A.S., Al-Qerem, W. & Mukattash, T.L. (2021). Career choices of Pharmacy and Pharm D undergraduates: Attitudes and preferences. Heliyon, 7(3):1–8 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06448

Kintu, M.J., Zhu, C., & Kagambe, E. (2017). Blended learning effectiveness: The relationship between student characteristics, design features and outcomes. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 14(1), 7–26. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-017-0043-4

Kwak, S.K. & Kim, J. (2017). Statistical data preparation: Management of missing values and outliers. Korean Journal of Anesthesiology, 70(4):407–411 https://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2017.70.4.407

Lakhal, S., Mukamurera, J., Bédard, M.E., Heilporn, G. & Chauret, M. (2021). Students and instructors’ perspective on blended synchronous learning in a Canadian graduate program. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 37:1383–1396 https://doi.org/10.1111/jcal.12578

Law, V.T.S., Yee, H.H.L., Ng, T.K.C. & Fong, B.Y.F. (2022). Transition from Traditional to Online Learning in Hong Kong Tertiary Educational Institutions During COVID-19 Pandemic. Technology, Knowledge and Learning, 1–17 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10758-022-09603-z

Li, L. (2022). Teaching presence predicts cognitive presence in blended learning during COVID-19: The chain mediating role of social presence and sense of community. Frontiers in Psychology, 13:1–13 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.950687

Liman Kaban, A. (2021). The Influence of Online CoI Presences on Learner Satisfaction in Higher Education. Asian Journal of Distance Education, 16(1):230–246 https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5021228

Luo, Y. (2021). The Opportunities and Limitations of Blended Learning and the Flipped Classroom for Second Language Teaching. BCP Social Sciences & Humanities, 14:190–194 https://doi.org/10.54691/bcpssh.v14i.193

Martin, F., Wu, T., Wan, L. & Xie, K. (2022). A Meta-Analysis on the Community of Inquiry Presences and Learning Outcomes in Online and Blended Learning Environments. Online Learning, 26(1):325–359 https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v26i1.2604

Mebert, L., Barnes, R., Dalley, J., Gawarecki, L., Ghazi-Nezami, F., Shafer, G., Slater, J. & Yezbick, E. (2020). Fostering student engagement through a real-world, collaborative project across disciplines and institutions. Higher Education Pedagogies, 5(1):30–51 https://doi.org/10.1080/23752696.2020.1750306

Medina, M.S., Smith, W.T., Kolluru, S., Sheaffer, E.A. & DiVall, M. (2019). A Review of Strategies for Designing, Administering, and Using Student Ratings of Instruction. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 83(5):753–764 https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe7177

Pratiwi, J.A., Rosalina, N., Rodiah, N. & Ervina, W. (2021). The Performance of Synchronous and Asynchronous Methods in Teaching and Learning English. Indonesian Journal of Research and Educational Review, 1(1):46–57 https://doi.org/10.51574/ijrer.v1i1.53

Purwandari, E.P., Junus, K. & Santoso, H.B. (2022). Exploring E-Learning Community of Inquiry Framework for Engineering Education. International Journal of Instruction, 15(1) :619–632 https://doi.org/10.29333/iji.2022.15135a

Rajabalee, B.Y., Santally, M.I. & Rennie, F. (2020). A study of the relationship between students’ engagement and their academic performances in an eLearning environment. E-Learning and Digital Medi, 17(1):1–20 https://doi.org/10.1177/2042753019882567

Sáiz-Manzanare, M.C., Escolar-Llamazares, M.-C. & González, Á. A. (2020). Effectiveness of Blended Learning in Nursing Education. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(5):1–15 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051589

Schafer, J.L. (1999). Multiple imputation: a primer. Statistical methods in medical research, 8(1):3–15 https://doi.org/10.1177/096228029900800102

Shin, N. (2003). Transactional Presence as a Critical Predictor of Success in Distance Learning. Distance Education, 24(1):69–86 https://doi.org/10.1080/0158791032000066534

Sobirova, S.U. & Karimova, R. (2021). Advantages and Disadvantages of Traditional and Non-Traditional Lessons, Goals, Objectives and Types. European Journal of Innovation in Nonformal Education, 1(2):233–236 https://inovatus.es/index.php/ejine/article/view/110

Sonji, G., Halat, D.H., Mehyou, Z. & Rahal, M. (2022). PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION: Online course delivery, assessment, and student satisfaction: The case of Quantitative Chemical Analysis course in the time of COVID-19 pandemic. Pharmacy Education, 22(1):172–182 https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2022.221.172182

Suwantarathip, O. (2019). Predictors of student’s satisfaction with a hybrid English course. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 20(1):115–130 https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-119868/v1

Tanis, C. J. (2020). The seven principles of online learning: Feedback from faculty and alumni on its importance for teaching and learning. Research in Learning Technology, 28:2319–2343 https://doi.org/10.25304/rlt.v28.2319

Tian, J., Zhang, M., Zhou, H. & Wu, J. (2021). College Satisfaction, Sense of Achievement, Student Happiness and Sense of Belonging of Freshmen in Chinese Private Colleges: Mediation Effect of Emotion Regulation. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(22):1–14 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182211736

Vallée, A., Blacher, J., Cariou, A. & Sorbets, E. (2020). Blended Learning Compared to Traditional Learning in Medical Education: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(8):e16504 https://doi.org/10.2196/16504

Venkatesh, S., Rao, Y.K., Nagarajaa, H., Woolley, T., Alele, F. O. & Malau-Aduli, B.S. (2020). Factors Influencing Medical Students’ Experiences and Satisfaction with Blended Integrated E-Learning. Medical Principles and Practice, 29(4):396–402 https://doi.org/10.1159/000505210

Wai, C. C. & Seng, E. L. K. (2014). Exploring the effectiveness and efficiency of blended learning tools in a school of business. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Science, 123:470–476 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.01.1446

Wang, Y. Zhao, L., Shen, S. & Chen, W. (2021). Constructing a Teaching Presence Measurement Framework Based on the Community of Inquiry Theory. Frontiers in Psychology, 12:1–11 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.694386

Xing, X. & Saghaian, S. (2022). Learning Outcomes of a Hybrid Online Virtual Classroom and In-Person Traditional Classroom during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Sustainability, 14(9), 5263–5276 https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095263

Zhao, J. & Li, Q. (2022). Big Data–Artificial Intelligence Fusion Technology in Education in the Context of the New Crown Epidemic. Big Data, 10(3):262–276 https://doi.org/10.1089/big.2021.0245

Zhao, L., Xu, P., Chen, Y. & Yan, S. (2022). A literature review of the research on students’ evaluation of teaching in higher education. Frontiers in Psychology, 13:1–9 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1004487

Zheng, W., Ma, Y. Y. & Lin, H. L. (2021). Research on Blended Learning in Physical Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of Chinese Students. SAGE Open, 11(4):1–12 https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211058196

Downloads

Published

09-06-2023

How to Cite

Sonji, G., Hammoudi Halat, D., Mourad, N., Sonji, N., Mehyou, Z., & Rahal, M. (2023). Pharmacy students’ perceptions and satisfaction with blended instruction in quantitative chemical analysis course. Pharmacy Education, 23(1), p. 269–282. https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2023.231.269282

Issue

Section

Research Article