Perception of undergraduate medical students toward online learning in comparison with traditional learning

Background: The E-Learning has significant impact in developing medical education and accepted by medical students. It can be used either as sole platform for teaching or can be integrated with traditional teaching. However, during the time of COVID-19 outbreak, online learning was ahead and continued to provide education in the pandemic phase.

Aims and Objectives: The study was aimed to assess medical students’ perception toward usefulness and challenges of online learning and to compare the students’ perception toward online learning and traditional learning. 

Materials and Methods: This survey based educational study was carried out among total no of 501 undergraduate medical students of our institution. A pre-validated structured feedback questionnaire was sent to the participants and the response was collected. 

Results: Out of 501 students, a total number of 201 (40.11%) students experienced that the online learning is not comfortable as well as it is exhausting in comparison of face to face learning. About 255 (50.8%) students thought that online learning does not motivate students for interactive learning. It was found that 52% students preferred traditional with online learning, 41.51% students liked face to face learning while only 6.38% students have chosen only online learning. 

Conclusion: The online learning has its own advantages but, classroom-based learning is still most preferred by students for effective learning in terms of motivation and interaction. However, it can be incorporated in traditional learning for better teaching learning experience.