PERCEPTION OF DENTAL STUDENTS REGARDING ONLINE CLASSES DURING THE PANDEMIC

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the perception of dental students regarding online classes during COVID-19. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Various institutes of Pakistan, from Jun 2020 to Jun 2020. Methodology: The study was conducted amongst the dental students of various institutes of Pakistan. Both male and females students from all four academic years were included. Sample was collected by distributing an online well-structured and validated questionnaire through different social media platforms and by sending the survey link in Electronic-mails. SPSS version-25 was used for statistical analysis. Results: Majority of the participants, 191(42.4%) were from 18-20 years of age. 269(59.8%) preferred synchronous teaching method. Most of the participants responded negatively when asked about the improvement of clinical skills from online classes, 315(70%) disagreed/strongly disagreed. Though most had a positive response towards interaction with teachers 69(15.3%) and 150(33.3%) responding strongly agreed and agreed. 294(65.3%) were in favor of conventional/traditional learning and 270(60%) were not confident enough to sit in the exam after the online interactive classes. Lastly, 200(44.5%) participants suggested agreement towards hybrid learning system for the future. Conclusion: It is concluded that a hybrid type of teaching should be incorporated in the future to make the teaching and learning process for both the teachers and the students more favorable and easier. Furthermore, continuation of online teaching as a part of hybrid teaching will keep the students accustomed with it and help in improving the quality of online teaching.