Exploring the influence of learning modality preferences and COVID-19 infection experiences on depressive mood in Chinese students.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the mental health of children and adolescents worldwide. While various factors contributing to this phenomenon have been explored, the role of learning style preferences remains underexamined. This cross-sectional study, conducted between October and November 2020, involved over 20,000 participants, including students from junior high school, senior high school, and undergraduate levels. Significant differences in depressive mood levels were observed among individuals with different learning modality preferences upon the return to traditional, in-person learning. Students with in-person learning preferences exhibited lower depression levels, while students with no preference for either learning style outperformed devotees of remote learning. The highest depression occurred among those endorsing neither learning mode. Importantly, the impact of these preferences on depressive moods was found to be moderated by COVID-19 infection experiences. The findings highlight the nuanced relationship between learning style preferences, COVID-19 infection experiences, and mental health outcomes among students. Acknowledging the moderating effect of infection experiences is crucial for developing targeted interventions and adapting pedagogical approaches post-pandemic. This study contributes valuable insights into the complex relationships shaping the mental well-being of students amidst educational disruptions caused by the pandemic.

Virtual Education in Urogynecology: Enhancing Understanding and Management of Pelvic Fistulas.

Introduction: Pelvic fistulas affect a significant number of patients globally, with a relatively low prevalence in the United States. Virtual education offers an effective, scalable solution to bridge this educational gap and lead to a deeper understanding of more common conditions, such as urinary and fecal incontinence. Methods: We developed two virtual cases on rectovaginal and vesicovaginal/ureterovaginal fistulas to enhance medical students' exposure, knowledge, and confidence regarding assessment of pelvic fistulas. The cases could be completed in approximately 30 minutes, asynchronously, and at students' own pace. The cases were integrated into an OB/GYN clerkship. We conducted a survey among students receiving the cases to gather feedback on usability, acceptability, and educational value, which guided subsequent improvements. Results: Forty medical students, ranging from first to third year, participated in the urogynecology elective; 21 (53%) completed the survey. Ninety-one percent agreed or strongly agreed they were satisfied with the cases. All respondents found the format easy to use and appropriate for their level of learning. Most reported the cases improved their confidence in nonsurgical and surgical management options for pelvic fistulas. Discussion: Offering virtual and interactive patient cases on e-learning platforms represents an innovative approach to increasing clinical exposure to urogynecologic disorders. By providing medical students with the opportunity to interact with pelvic fistulas virtually, these cases can help bridge a gap in clinical education. Future exploration is valuable for examining knowledge deficiencies and developing cost-effective, self-paced, easily accessible educational resources to advance medical training and optimize patient care.

Education in focus: Significant improvements in student learning and satisfaction with ophthalmology teaching delivered using a blended learning approach.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to measure student satisfaction with a revised ophthalmology delivery format, which due to the pandemic had previously relied on a remote online flipped classroom (OFC) format compared to a blended learning format. This educational strategy combined online learning with in-person seminars and practical patient centred sessions. Our previous investigations demonstrated a significant lack of student satisfaction with a curriculum solely reliant on a remote OFC, as such we hypothesised that a blended learning approach would result in improved levels of student satisfaction and knowledge gain. METHODS: Non-randomised intervention study of two groups; group 1 = OFC group and group 2 = BL group, compared perspectives of 4th year ophthalmology students using a validated course evaluation questionnaire (CEQ). RESULTS: A total of 59 students from the BL group (n = 257; response rate = 23.0%) and 28 from the OFC group agreed to participate in the study (n = 114; response rate = 24.6%). Participants in the BL group felt it was easier to determine the standard of work that was expected (77.42% v 60.71%) and demonstrated significantly increased satisfaction with staff motivation of students (95.16% v 64.29%, p <0.001) and provision of feedback (74.19% v 46.43%, p = 0.004), compared to the OFC group. Furthermore, students in the BL group also felt the course significantly improved their analytical skills (64.52% v 42.85%, p = 0.023) and ability to work as part of team (69.36% v 25%, p <0.001) as well as reporting reduced dissatisfaction with the level of choice afforded in terms of how they would learn (33.88% v 60.71%, p = 0.31) and the how they were assessed (59.68% v 89.28%, p = 0.004). No evidence of a statistical difference in exam score was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated an unavoidable pivot to online and distance learning, to meet the challenges presented by government mandates and social distancing requirements. Since many of these directives have been reversed, it is important to evaluate the effectiveness and learner perceptions' of the online and distance learning interventions. In this study we demonstrated a significant student preference for BL compared to the OFC approach, with comparable student performances determined by MCQ examinations. Our findings suggest a preference for reintroducing in-person and patient engagement activities in post-pandemic health professions education.

University students' preferences of learning modes post COVID-19-associated lockdowns: In-person, online, and blended.

Online teaching accelerated during COVID-19-associated lockdowns. At that time, it was assumed that university students wanted to revert to in-person sessions at the earliest opportunity. However, when in-person sessions were re-introduced, student attendance was not as high as expected. Therefore, we examined students' preferences of learning modes. Students (n = 968) from different UK universities, degree cohorts, study levels and biological sexes were given four learning-mode options: Face-to-face sessions for lectures and tutorials (in-person), Live online sessions for lectures and tutorials (Online-synchronous), Pre-recorded lectures and live online tutorials (Online-mixed-asynchronous-synchronous), and Pre-recorded lectures and face-to-face tutorials (Blended: in-person and online-asynchronous). Students ranked these options as per their preference via an online anonymous survey. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics 28. Results showed that the most frequently selected 1st and last choices were In-person and Online-synchronous modes, respectively. For the majority, above choices were the same across study levels and biological sex, but across degree cohorts, the 1st choice was either In-person or Blended. Proportion of students selecting In-person mode as their 1st choice (52.2%) was almost equal to the combined proportions of those selecting other learning modes as 1st choices (47.5%). Amongst degree cohorts, In-person mode was least preferred by Language Education students and most preferred by Bioscience and Sports & Exercise Science students. The latter cohort also preferred Online-synchronous mode more than other degree cohorts. Blended mode was preferred more by Language Education, Computer Science and Psychology students but preferred less by Sports & Exercise Science and Pharmacy students, compared to other degree cohorts. Ordinal regression revealed that Sports & Exercise Science students preferred Online-mixed-asynchronous-synchronous mode less than Language Education students. Undergraduates preferred In-person mode more and Online-mixed- asynchronous-synchronous mode less than postgraduates. Preference differences between biological sexes were insignificant. Thus, we identified students' preferences of learning modes and propose that not biological sex, but discipline and study level can predict/influence preferences.

Assessing the value and knowledge gains from an online tick identification and tick-borne disease management course for the Southeastern United States.

BACKGROUND: Tick-borne diseases are a growing public health threat in the United States. Despite the prevalence and rising burden of tick-borne diseases, there are major gaps in baseline knowledge and surveillance efforts for tick vectors, even among vector control districts and public health agencies. To address this issue, an online tick training course (OTTC) was developed through the Southeastern Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases (SECOEVBD) to provide a comprehensive knowledge base on ticks, tick-borne diseases, and their management. METHODS: The OTTC consisted of training modules covering topics including tick biology, tick identification, tick-borne diseases, and public health, personal tick safety, and tick surveillance. The course was largely promoted to vector control specialists and public health employees throughout the Southeastern US. We collected assessment and survey data on participants to gauge learning outcomes, perceptions of the utility of knowledge gained, and barriers and facilitators to applying the knowledge in the field. RESULTS: The OTTC was successful in increasing participants' baseline knowledge across all course subject areas, with the average score on assessment increasing from 62.6% (pre-course) to 86.7% (post-course). More than half of participants (63.6%) indicated that they would definitely use information from the course in their work. Barriers to using information identified in the delayed assessment included lack of opportunities to apply skills (18.5%) and the need for additional specialized training beyond what the OTTC currently offers (18.5%), while the main facilitator (70.4%) for applying knowledge was having opportunities at work, such as an existing tick surveillance program. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this OTTC demonstrated capacity to improve knowledge in a necessary and underserved public health field, and more than half of participants use or plan to use the information in their work. The geographic reach of this online resource was much larger than simply for the Southeastern region for which it was designed, suggesting a much broader need for this resource. Understanding the utility and penetrance of training programs such as these is important for refining materials and assessing optimal targets for training.

COVID-19: Medical education from the point of view of medical students using the participatory Delphi method.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a transformation of medical training. Although there were obvious medical education and social interaction challenges, e-learning presented some advantages, which may have generated medical curricula innovation and adjustments to novel technological methodologies. This study aims to generate consensuses among medical students regarding medical education provided during the pandemic in the resource-limited context of a Global South university. METHODS: The implementation of a participatory Delphi method included a recruitment campaign, training, constitution of Delphi panels and questions, and development of the Delphi exercises. Students from the second to the sixth year of medicine of a university in Quito, Ecuador, constituted two Delphi panels, developed questions about the education received during the pandemic, and answered them over 3.5 rounds. FINDINGS: Twenty-two medical students participated in the Delphi exercises about their perception of medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis consisted of a total of 22 Delphi questions divided into five distinct categories: adaptations and innovations, curriculum and assessment changes, virtual clinical practice, time management, and mental health. The authors established high, medium, and low consensuses for analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Consensuses were reached based on students' academic year and focused on the changes in lecture delivery, the usage of new technologies, patient care skills, the impact of the educational routine, and the mental health of the COVID-19 pandemic. The way the pandemic affected medical education in the Global South set the stage for the need for a comprehensive review of tools, skills, and curricula for students from culturally diverse backgrounds. This study offers a highly replicable methodology to generate consensuses and introduce students to academic research.

Hybrid teaching after COVID-19: advantages, challenges and optimization strategies.

BACKGROUND: In the post-pandemic era of higher education, hybrid teaching has emerged as a prevalent approach and is anticipated to persist as a defining trend in the future teaching reforms worldwide. However, despite its widespread adoption, certain limitations have become apparent. The objective of this study is to identify the genuine factors that impact students' performance, explore strategies that teachers can employ to enhance their teaching effectiveness and enhance students' academic self-efficacy. METHODS: The study was performed among undergraduate medical students enrolled in Physiology course at Harbin Medical University in 2020 and 2022. Since 2020, influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, a hybrid teaching method based on an established offline teaching model called BOPPPS was implemented. A questionnaire was performed in both 2020 and 2022 to evaluate students' satisfaction and efficiency of our hybrid teaching. A comparison was also carried out on the final examination scores of students majoring in Pharmacy and Clinical Pharmacy across the years 2020 to 2022. RESULTS: The final examination scores of students in 2022 were significantly lower than those in 2020 and 2021 both in Pharmacy and Clinical Pharmacy majors. There was also a decrease of the score in students of Clinical Pharmacy in 2021 compared to 2020. The questionnaire indicated that over half (52.0%) of the students in 2022 preferred offline teaching method, in contrast to 39.1% in 2020. There were obvious changes in students from 2020 to 2022 about the disadvantages of hybrid teaching, the improvement of students' learning ability and the duration of students' autonomous learning. Through cross statistical analysis, online learning styles, learning ability improvement and students' learning burden have been identified as the primary factors influencing their preference for future teaching method. CONCLUSIONS: Hybrid teaching is still a necessary trend in the future teaching reform base on its multiple advantages. However, in order to improve the teaching outcomes and foster students' participation and learning initiatives, it is imperative to undertake additional reforms in the future teaching process.

Regularized ensemble learning for prediction and risk factors assessment of students at risk in the post-COVID era.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on students' academic performance. The effects of the pandemic have varied among students, but some general trends have emerged. One of the primary challenges for students during the pandemic has been the disruption of their study habits. Students getting used to online learning routines might find it even more challenging to perform well in face to face learning. Therefore, assessing various potential risk factors associated with students low performance and its prediction is important for early intervention. As students' performance data encompass diverse behaviors, standard machine learning methods find it hard to get useful insights for beneficial practical decision making and early interventions. Therefore, this research explores regularized ensemble learning methods for effectively analyzing students' performance data and reaching valid conclusions. To this end, three pruning strategies are implemented for the random forest method. These methods are based on out-of-bag sampling, sub-sampling and sub-bagging. The pruning strategies discard trees that are adversely affected by the unusual patterns in the students data forming forests of accurate and diverse trees. The methods are illustrated on an example data collected from university students currently studying on campus in a face-to-face modality, who studied during the COVID-19 pandemic through online learning. The suggested methods outperform all the other methods considered in this paper for predicting students at the risk of academic failure. Moreover, various factors such as class attendance, students interaction, internet connectivity, pre-requisite course(s) during the restrictions, etc., are identified as the most significant features.

Online vs. face-to-face interactive communication education using video materials among healthcare college students: a pilot non-randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine whether online interactive communication education using video materials was as effective as face-to-face education among healthcare college students. METHODS: The participants were healthcare college students who were enrolled in study programs to obtain national medical licenses. They participated in lectures and exercises on healthcare communication, both online (n = 139) and face-to-face (n = 132). Listening skills, understanding, and confidence in healthcare communication were assessed using a self-assessed tool. RESULTS: From the two-way ANOVA result, the interaction effects between group (online, face-to-face) and time (Time 1, Time 2, Time 3) were not statistically significant. The main effect of time increased significantly from Time1 to Time 3 on understanding of communication with patients (Hedges'g = 0.51, 95%CI 0.27-0.75), confidence in communication with patients (g = 0.40, 95%CI 0.16-0.64), and confidence in clinical practice (g = 0.49, 95%CI 0.25, 0.73), while the score of listening skills had no significant change (Hedges'g = 0.09, 95%CI - 0.03 to 0.45). CONCLUSIONS: The results show that online communication education with video materials and active exercises is as effective in improving students' confidence as face-to-face. It will be necessary to modify the content of this educational program to improve skills as well as confidence in communication. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not Applicable.

Factors Associated With Continuous Use of a Cancer Education Metaverse Platform: Mixed Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: Early detection of cancer and provision of appropriate treatment can increase the cancer cure rate and reduce cancer-related deaths. Early detection requires improving the cancer screening quality of each medical institution and enhancing the capabilities of health professionals through tailored education in each field. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, regional disparities in educational infrastructure emerged, and educational accessibility was restricted. The demand for remote cancer education services to address these issues has increased, and in this study, we considered medical metaverses as a potential means of meeting these needs. In 2022, we used Metaverse Educational Center, developed for the virtual training of health professionals, to train radiologic technologists remotely in mammography positioning. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the user experience of the Metaverse Educational Center subplatform and the factors associated with the intention for continuous use by focusing on cases of using the subplatform in a remote mammography positioning training project. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, cross-sectional survey between July and December 2022. We performed a descriptive analysis to examine the Metaverse Educational Center user experience and a logistic regression analysis to clarify factors closely related to the intention to use the subplatform continuously. In addition, a supplementary open-ended question was used to obtain feedback from users to improve Metaverse Educational Center. RESULTS: Responses from 192 Korean participants (male participants: n=16, 8.3%; female participants: n=176, 91.7%) were analyzed. Most participants were satisfied with Metaverse Educational Center (178/192, 92.7%) and wanted to continue using the subplatform in the future (157/192, 81.8%). Less than half of the participants (85/192, 44.3%) had no difficulty in wearing the device. Logistic regression analysis results showed that intention for continuous use was associated with satisfaction (adjusted odds ratio 3.542, 95% CI 1.037-12.097; P=.04), immersion (adjusted odds ratio 2.803, 95% CI 1.201-6.539; P=.02), and no difficulty in wearing the device (adjusted odds ratio 2.020, 95% CI 1.004-4.062; P=.049). However, intention for continuous use was not associated with interest (adjusted odds ratio 0.736, 95% CI 0.303-1.789; P=.50) or perceived ease of use (adjusted odds ratio 1.284, 95% CI 0.614-2.685; P=.51). According to the qualitative feedback, Metaverse Educational Center was useful in cancer education, but the experience of wearing the device and the types and qualities of the content still need to be improved. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate the positive user experience of Metaverse Educational Center by focusing on cases of using the subplatform in a remote mammography positioning training project. Our results also suggest that improving users' satisfaction and immersion and ensuring the lack of difficulty in wearing the device may enhance their intention for continuous use of the subplatform.

All hands on deck during the COVID-19 pandemic. Maintaining face-to-face medical education and clinical placements.

Medical students must have robust educational experiences, graduate and commence timely employment. Here, we describe how the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) delivered clinical placements in medical programmes over the first three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland, including a student-centred, holistic approach to students' educational, social and health needs with strong student involvement, re-organising the university's primary care team, developing COVID-19 PCR testing on site and re-focusing communications and student services. This resulted in re-arranging the students into learning communities, and students and staff electronically recorded their COVID-19 symptom status daily. In-person observed structured clinical examination and other clinical exams progressed. No lockdown of any campus occurred. Over the two senior years, 693 students completed 15,000 weeks of clinical and experiential learning across 104 sites, similar to previous years, including anatomy practicals, procedural skills training, simulated ward rounds and patient encounters, case-based presentations and small group tutorials. The compliance rate with the daily symptom tracker was 91%. The percentage response rate and the number of students providing feedback from October 2020 to April 2021 was as high as 50%. The overall response rate was 33%. By mid-May, 93-95% of students in the two senior years had had at least one dose of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, with 99% fully vaccinated by the start of the next academic year in autumn 2021. Over the period of testing for SARS-CoV-2, just over 22,000 samples were processed, of which 0.79% were positive; no medical student acquired COVID-19 or was associated with nosocomial transmission. The total investment by the RCSI in Dublin, was €9.3m (€1.2 in capital expenditure and €8.1 in operational expenses). Continuing face-to-face clinical placements during a pandemic was possible through a multi-model approach that prioritised two-way communication, compliance with national public health advice and student screening.

Evaluation of choices and time spent on an open online elective course by undergraduate medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the weakness of relying on in-person tuition in higher education. Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have been a successful addition to higher education. In this study, educators had to replace a planned elective in the medical curriculum with an online option during the pandemic. The roles of the competency framework of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) (Leader and Manager, Health Advocate, Professional, Communicator, Collaborator, Scholar, and Healthcare Practitioner) were used to guide its development. This elective emphasised the non-clinical roles of medical practitioners and was offered in 2020 and 2021. OBJECTIVES: To describe the choices of third-year medical students and time spent participating in a modified online elective in 2020 and 2021. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used, involving the participation of 629 medical students. Data were collected and analysed from three primary sources: registration data from LinkedIn Learning, data from the Foundation for Professional Development, and self-reported estimates by students of the average time spent on selected courses. Data included identification of the associated competency acquired. Data analysis was conducted using Python, version 3.10.11. RESULTS: The course choices of 629 students were analysed. In 2020 there were 300 participants and in 2021 there were 329. All the students had one compulsory inclusion in the elective (Management and Leadership Short Course for Undergraduate Healthcare Students). Students in both years reported spending the most average time on courses related to clinical knowledge (Healthcare Practitioner), followed by financial literacy and management (Professional), diversity management (Collaborator), and priority actions to identify and/or respond to (Health Advocate). The most popular courses related to the Leader and Manager role were around decision-making in human resources, problem-solving, and managing healthcare teams. Based on the top 10 LinkedIn Learning course selections of both cohorts, there appeared to be a preference for courses that were consistent with the role of medical professionals in practice. The most popular LinkedIn Learning course was The Six Morning Habits of High Performers. CONCLUSION: Students gravitated toward courses aligned with their role as professional doctors within the HPCSA competency framework. More studies are needed to understand how medical students develop the six non-clinical roles in the HPCSA framework and the effectiveness of MOOCs in a medical curriculum.

An efficient, reliable and valid assessment for affective states during online learning.

The current study aims to develop an efficient, reliable and valid assessment, the affective states for online learning scale (ASOLS), for measuring learners' affective states during online learning using a sample of 173 young learners. The assessment consists of 15 items which assess five affective states, including concentration, motivation, perseverance, engagement, and self-initiative. To improve efficiency, five items (one for each affective state) are randomly selected and presented every 30 min during online learning. In addition, 14 among the participants were further invited to perform on-site online learning, and their affective states were validated by observations conducted by two psychologists. The ASOLS was found to be reliable and valid, with high internal consistency reliabilities and good construct, convergent and criterion validity. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the hypothesized five-factor structure demonstrated a satisfactory fit to the data. Moreover, engagement was found to be positively associated with learning performance. Our findings suggest that the ASOLS provides a useful tool for teachers to identify students in upper primary and junior secondary schools with deficits in affective states and offer appropriate remedy or support. It can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions aimed at enhancing students' affective states during online learning.

Learning Outcomes of e-Learning in Psychotherapy Training and Comparison With Conventional Training Methods: Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Mental disorders pose a major public health problem in most western countries. The demand for services for common mental health disorders has been on the rise despite the widespread accessibility of medication. Especially, the supply and demand for evidence-based psychotherapy do not align. Large-scale increase of modern psychotherapy is difficult with current methods of training which are often expensive, time consuming, and dependent on a small number of top-level professionals as trainers. E-learning has been proposed to enhance psychotherapy training accessibility, quality, and scalability. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aims to provide an overview of the current evidence regarding e-learning in psychotherapy training. In particular, the review examines the usability, acceptability, and learning outcomes associated with e-learning. Learning outcomes are assessed in different modalities including trainee experiences, knowledge acquisition, skill acquisition, and application of trained content in daily practice. Furthermore, the equivalence of web-based training and conventional training methods is evaluated. METHODS: Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, a search from Ovid, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Scopus databases between 2008 and June 2022 was conducted. Inclusion criteria required studies to describe e-learning systems for psychotherapy training and assess acceptability, feasibility, or learning outcomes. The risk of bias was evaluated for both randomized and nonrandomized studies. Learning outcomes were categorized using the Kirkpatrick model. Effect sizes comparing e-learning and traditional methods were calculated. RESULTS: The search yielded 3380 publications, of which 34 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Positive learning outcomes are generally associated with various e-learning programs in psychotherapy training including trainee satisfaction, knowledge, and skill acquisition, and in application of trained content in clinical practice. Learning outcomes generally show equivalence between e-learning and conventional training methods. The overall effect size, indicating this disparity, was 0.01, suggesting no significant difference. This literature displays a high level of heterogeneity in e-learning solutions and assessment methods. CONCLUSIONS: e-Learning seems to have good potential to enhance psychotherapy training by increasing access, scalability, and cost-effectiveness while maintaining quality in terms of learning outcomes. Results are congruent with findings related to e-learning in health education in general where e-learning as a pedagogy is linked to an opportunity to carry out learner-centric practices. Recommendations for conducting psychotherapy training programs in blended settings supported by activating learning methods are presented. However, due to the heterogeneity and limitations in the existing literature, further research is necessary to replicate these findings and to establish global standards for e-learning, as well as for the assessment of training outcomes in psychotherapy education. Research is especially needed on the effects of training on patient outcomes and optimal ways to combine e-learning and conventional training methods in blended learning settings.

Note-taking fosters distance video learning: smartphones as risk and intellectual values as protective factors.

Distance video learning, especially with how-to videos, has become extremely popular. Whereas previous studies revealed note-taking as a prominent and promising support measure for video learning in the lab, we focus on note-taking while learning from a how-to video in a distance learning setting. Meanwhile, learners' digital distraction and smartphone usage have become widespread and excessive, potentially harming learning. We thus also aimed to analyze potential risk and protective factors associated with learning with how-to videos, such as smartphone usage time and intellectual values. We conducted an online field experiment involving 59 psychology students, who learned with a short how-to video on plumbing. We found that note-takers outperformed non-note-takers in a posttest about the video content. Furthermore, this note-taking effect on learning outcomes was mediated by learning engagement. Besides note-taking and intellectual values as contributing positively to learning outcomes, we also identified the mean daily smartphone usage time as a risk factor to learning. Overall, our results show how beneficial it is for students to take notes while learning with how-to videos in a distance learning setting. Conversely, learners should avoid digital distractions, in particular through smartphones.

The perceptions of medical students of online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national survey from Jordan.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jordan declared a state of emergency on 19 March 2020, implementing a 10-week curfew and closing all educational institutions. Consequently, online learning commenced to ensure educational continuity amid the pandemic. The aim of this study was to assess medical students' perception of online teaching during this period in a limited-resource setting and to identify associated challenges. A cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 393 undergraduate medical students in their 4th, 5th, and 6th year from six universities across Jordan. The self-administered online survey included four categories, exploring the satisfaction of medical students and challenges they faced during online education, and was distributed on Facebook and WhatsApp. A total of 393 students completed the survey, 264 (62.6%) of which were female. The majority of respondents were from Jordan University and in their 4th year. Regarding online teaching, 218 (55.5%) expressed satisfaction; however, an equivalent percentage disagreed that online methods could replace traditional teaching. Notably, 238 (86%) believed that their confidence in new clinical skills acquired through online education was adversely affected. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to improve the effectiveness of online education, especially in developing essential clinical skills.

The impact of digital learning on Saudi nursing students' engagement: A qualitative study.

AIM: This study aimed to explore the perception of nursing students regarding their engagement in digital learning environments. DESIGN: At one of universities in Saudi Arabia, a qualitative descriptive study design was used among nursing students from various academic levels. METHODS: Data were collected using focus group discussions among a sample of 23 participants. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The COREQ Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research were used to report this study. RESULTS: While sharing their perceptions the nursing students reflected on the behavioural and cognitive aspects of engagement, yet they did not include emotional aspects of engagement in their conceptualization. However, the results showed that, while they reflected on their experiences they tended to reflect on emotional aspects of engagement. According to the study's results, self-paced studying, reflective exercises, and interaction with audiovisual and dynamic content all encourage the activation of past knowledge in online learning. The learning modality also was found to be a safe and convenient approach among the participating students. Digital learning presents as a promising educational approach that extends beyond the pandemic yet, efforts should be put in place to facilitate the optimal student engagement to meet learning outcomes. Further research is needed to measure its impact on engagement and other pertinent indicators objectively.

Processo de ensino e aprendizagem no período de suspensão das aulas presenciais em virtude da pandemia de COVID-19: estudo com professores / Teaching and learning process in the suspension period of classes in virtue of the COVID-19 pandemy: study with teachers / Proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje durante el período de suspensión de clases presencial por la pandemia del COVID-19: estudio con docentes

Introdução: Sabe-se que durante o período da pandemia do COVID-19, escolas e professores precisaram adaptar-se com alternativas para dar continuidade às aulas. Objetivo: Investigar estratégias e recursos pedagógicos de aprendizagem adotados por professores da rede pública e/ou privada de ensino, do interior de um estado brasileiro, durante o período de suspensão das aulas presenciais, em virtude da Pandemia de Covid-19 e seus efeitos para estudantes com e sem dificuldades de aprendizagem. Método: Aplicação de questionário on-line utilizando a ferramenta Google Forms para 37 professores atuantes do 1° ao 5° ano da rede pública e/ou privada no interior do estado, que tenham trabalhado remotamente durante a Pandemia no período de suspensão das aulas presenciais. Esse material continha questões de múltipla escolha e dissertativas e averiguava a forma de trabalho durante este período, as estratégias e os recursos adotados. Resultados: Os resultados mostraram que as estratégias mais utilizadas pelos professores foram uso de materiais impressos. Os professores relataram as dificuldades e os desafios em adotar o ensino remoto, referentes à desigualdade social dos alunos, a dificuldade de adaptação dos professores a esta forma de ensino e ao empenho restrito das famílias no processo de aprendizagem. Conclusão: foi possível verificar como ocorreu o processo de adaptação ao ensino remoto pelos professores. Verifica-se a necessidade de explorar o trabalho conjunto com a Fonoaudiologia, visando minimizar as dificuldades apresentadas pelos estudantes, o que auxiliaria no processo de ensino e aprendizagem dos alunos que, posteriormente, poderiam vir a ser futuros pacientes do setor de Fonoaudiologia. (AU)

Introduction: it is known that during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools and teachers needed to adapt with alternatives to continue classes. Purpose: Investigate pedagogical learning strategies and resources adopted by teachers from public and/or private schools in the interior of a Brazilian state during the period of suspension of face-to-face classes, due to the Covid-19 Pandemic and its effects on students with and without learning difficulties. Method: This research included the application of an online questionnaire through Google Forms to 37 active teachers from the 1st to the 5th year of the public and/or private network at Brasilian state who have worked remotely during the Pandemic during the suspension period of in-person classes. This material contained multiple choice questions and essays, referring to the way of working during this period, strategies and resources adopted. Results: The results showed that the most used strategies by teachers were the use of printed materials. Teachers reported the difficulties and challenges in adopting remote teaching, referring to the social inequality of students, the limited commitment of families in the learning process and the difficulty of teachers to adapt to this form of teaching. Conclusion: Among 37 teachers who joined the study, it was possible to verify how the process of adaptation to remote teaching took place. There is a need to explore the joint work with Speech Therapy, aiming to minimize the difficulties presented by students. Such clarifications would help in the teaching and learning process of students who could later become future patients in the Speech Therapy sector. (AU)

Introducción: se sabe que durante el período de la pandemia del COVID-19, las escuelas y los docentes requirieron adaptarse con alternativas para continuar las clases. Objetivos: Investigar estrategias y recursos pedagógicos de aprendizaje adoptados por profesores de escuelas públicas y/o privadas del interior de un estado brasileño durante el período de suspensión de clases presenciales, debido a la Pandemia Covid-19 y sus efectos en estudiantes con y sin dificultades de aprendizaje. Método: Esta investigación implicó la aplicación de un cuestionario en línea a través de Formularios de Google a 37 docentes que laboran del 1° al 5° año de la red pública y/o privada del interior del estado, que habían trabajado de manera remota durante la Pandemia en el período de suspensión de clases presenciales. Este material contenía preguntas de selección múltiple y desarrollo, referentes a la forma de trabajar durante este período, las estrategias y los recursos adoptados. Resultados: Los resultados mostraron que las estrategias más utilizadas por los docentes fue el uso de materiales impresos. Los docentes relataron las dificultades y desafíos en la adopción de la enseñanza a distancia, refiriéndose a la desigualdad social de los estudiantes, el compromiso restringido de las familias en el proceso de aprendizaje y la dificultad de adaptación de los docentes a esta forma de enseñanza. Conclusión: Entre 37 docentes que se sumaron al estudio, fue posible verificar cómo ocurrió el proceso de adaptación a la enseñanza a distancia. Existe la necesidad de explorar el trabajo conjunto con la Logopedia, con el objetivo de minimizar las dificultades presentadas por los estudiantes. Tales aclaraciones ayudarían en el proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje de los estudiantes que luego podrían convertirse en futuros pacientes del sector de Logopedia. (AU)

Fostering the Facilitator: Promoting Clinical Educators' Interprofessional Education Facilitation Skills and Socialization Using Exclusively Online Learning.

Health professions educators can benefit from continuing education to more effectively facilitate interprofessional education (IPE) in clinical settings. Online learning formats enable broader participation and overcome barriers to in-person events, though few studies describe the most effective platforms and methods of online continuing education for this purpose. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, we developed a 6-week interactive online program implemented via an integrated online educational platform (OEP) to equip participants with knowledge and skills to better facilitate IPE in clinical settings. Program outcomes evaluation involved mixed-methods data analysis from OEP site usage statistics, pre/post-program surveys, pre/post program validated self-assessment surveys, and post-pro¬gram focus group. Twenty-four participants representing 5 professions from inpatient and outpatient clinical settings completed the program. Quantitative findings include statistically significant improvement in all of 11 measures of IPE knowledge and skills developed for this study, 4 of 9 socialization measures, and 7 of 18 facilitation measures. Qualitative findings include participants placing value on multiple modes of instruction, facilitated small group engagement, brief condensed asynchronous content, clear expectations of program time commitment, and detailed understanding of the OEP.

Implementing online learning of Diagnostic Criteria for the Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) protocol in undergraduate dental education.

INTRODUCTION: The Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) is part of the undergraduate dental curriculum. Online teaching has nowadays become common also in dentistry. OBJECTIVE: To compare undergraduate students' self-assessed ability and satisfaction with learning DC/TMD Axis I between traditional and online learning and to evaluate the possible gains of online teaching. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Third-year undergraduate dental students in 2018 (traditional learning, Group 1, n = 43/50) and in 2019 (online learning, Group 2, n = 34/50) at the University of Oulu, Finland evaluated their self-assessed ability and satisfaction with learning DC/TMD clinical examination and diagnostics on a 10-point scale. Additionally, those participating in online courses answered to two open-ended questions; Group 2 (n = 50) and another group from the University of Eastern Finland in 2019 and 2020 (n = 75, Group 3). Total of 105/125 students (84%) responded. Content analysis was used to open-ended responses. RESULTS: The online course reported significantly higher self-assessed ability in measurements (p = 0.004), identifying referred pain (p = 0.043) and statement for the diagnostics (p = 0.017) and also higher self-assessed satisfaction in measurements (p = 0.046). According to the content analysis, essential gains of online teaching were efficient learning, videos and exercises, and adjustability to own timetable. CONCLUSION: The online learning course can be considered as a good option for traditional learning of the DC/TMD protocol.