Article Type : Research Article
Authors : Kavyn V
Keywords : On-line questionnaire; Distance learning; Foreign students
Distance learning in Ukraine was declared in 2000.
In recent years, this form of education is gradually being introduced into the
educational space of Ukraine and has become one of the priority task of
modernization of higher education. A world global processes contribute for
reforming higher education in Ukraine [1]. Distance learning has become
possible due to the active development of computer technology. The use of
modern information technologies, the development of which has achieved
significant success in the world, can significantly improve the learning
process. Different educational and state studies proved that distance form
learning is an efficient modality of learning. The introduction of this form of
education in the educational space has become especially relevant in the
context of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a relatively short period of time,
teachers and students had to change the traditional form of learning and
actively master new computer platforms, formats and interfaces to provide the
learning process [2]. Due to the distance form of education, the educational
process in higher education institutions has not been suspended. Students had
the opportunity to get knowledge and continue their studies. Successful
implementation of distance learning can take place, in particular, in the
presence of appropriate material and technical base (hardware and software, the
presence of high-speed communication lines), the development of quality
criteria etc. Distance learning, like any other form of learning, needs
constant improvement. Obviously, one of the methods of improving the
educational process in this form of education is the study of students'
opinions, as a subject of the educational process [3,4]. On-line conducting
student questionnaire helps to identify current drawbacks and problems that
arise in the educational process at distance learning. This will contribute to
the organization of the educational process and the study of the discipline by
students.
We conducted a
questionnaire of 84 second-year student’s specialty in "Medicine" of
the Department of Foreign Citizens of Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical
University at the Department of Clinical Anatomy and Operative Surgery.
Questionnaires of students were conducted on-line on the TEAMS platform, which
is used for the educational process at a distance form in IFNMU. Questionnaires
of students in the on-line mode were conducted as follows. A questionnaire with
questions was sent to a group of students by the teacher. Every student had the
opportunity to think individually and answer the questions in the
questionnaire. After answering the questions, the student sent his
questionnaire with the answers to the chief-student of the group. The
chief-student of the group, collecting all the questionnaires, were sending
them to the teacher. Students were offered a list of questions about thinking
of students to a distance learning, technical support of students for the
practical classes and the educational process at the department. The
questionnaire questions had answers, and students were asked to express their
opinion on a current learning on our department. The following questions were
included in the list:
·
To
own a practical skill I prefer: ?) drows B) video C) teacher has to show D)
other.
·
What
do you think about distance learning: ?) provides knowledge B) does not provide
knowledge C) not matter.
·
I
used for distance learning: ?) phone ?) comp C) laptop;
Why I did not use the
computer:
·
Internet
speed was: A) good B) bad C) could change.
·
I
had problem with internet: ?) yes ?) no.
·
During
distance learning, my preparation for the practical lesson was: ?) the best ?)
worse C) has not changed.
·
I
used a textbook or manual when answering during distance learning: ?) yes C)
no.
·
I
used the online consultation: ?) yes ?) no;
·
During
distance learning I was in: A) my country B) Ukraine.
·
?n
your opinion, it is better to conduct practical classes in the case of distance
learning.
·
Was
the discipline of clinical anatomy and operative surgery useful: A) yes B) no
C) not matter?
·
How
much the lectures helped you in preparation for the practical lesson ?) 0-10%
B) 11-30% C) 31-60% D) 61-100%.
Whether there were disadvantages of the lecture in the form of distance learning. The results of the questionnaire among students were different, but important for improving the educational process at the department. According to the questionnaire, during the distance form of education the vast majority of students of the Department of Foreign Citizens (67%) were abroad, and 33% of students continued their studies in Ukraine (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Location of foreign students during their studies (1- abroad; 2- in Ukraine).
In distance learning,
students mostly used telephones (63%), which coincides with the results of
student questionnaire in other countries [4]. A laptop or netbook were used by
27% of students, while only 10% of students used a computer (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Using of foreign students the channel of communication in the conditions distance learning (1-phones; 2- laptops or netbooks; 3-computers).
Figure 3: Usage additional materials during the answer by foreign students (1- “yes” used; 2- “no” did not use; 3- did not answer the question).
The different attitude
of students of the department of foreign citizens to the distance form of
education is noted. So, 43% of students consider that distance learning does
not provide adequate knowledge, while 39% of students answered that distance
learning can provide knowledge. Not a large percentage (18%) of students
believe that it does not matter what form of studying. During the distance form
of education, the preparation of students for practical classes is great
important. According to the results of the questionnaire, 45% of students noted
an improvement of their preparation for classes, 29% of students noted that the
preparation for practical classes became worse, and for 26% of students,
according to their answers in the questionnaire, change of education did not
effect on their preparation for practical classes. During the practical lesson,
in the case of distance learning, the teacher's control for using the
additional materials at student response is significantly reduced. The teacher
cannot fully control the usage of additional materials by students on the
distance. In keeping with results of the survey, 39% of students used textbooks
or other means to answer the questions asked by the teacher in on-line. About
51% of students answered negatively to the question about the usage of
additional materials at their answer, and 10% of students did not answer the
question (Figure 3).
Especially, important and relevant is the
mastering practical skills by students of medical universities in distance form
of learning. Ultimately, practical skills are an integral part of training
future doctors. It is important for us to study students' opinions on how best
to master a practical skill. In their questionnaire, the majority of students
(62%) showed that for mastering their practical skills, the teacher must
demonstrate practical skills, and 27% of students preferred to see videos on
practical skills to master them. Although, among these students (11%) there
were students who can master practical skills by combining video with skills
and demonstration practical skills by the teacher. As our experience shows, the
work of students in the educational and practical centre together with the
teacher in combination with various forms of presentation of educational
material (including video) helps students better and more effectively learn
practical skills. There is consultation time on department clinical anatomy and
operative surgery for better mastering theoretical material, and practical
skills by students. According to questionnaire, the majority of students (52%)
attended on-line consultations, and 48% of students did not use consultations.
Distance learning was assessed positively by 39% of students. Students argued
that distance learning is interesting because many videos are used in practical
classes. Understanding the dangers of the COVID-19 pandemic, 30% of students
also preferred distance learning. However, 31% of students were against
distance learning, as there is not possibility to master practical skills. For
us, the attitude of students to the discipline "Clinical Anatomy and
Operative Surgery" remains important. According to the results of the
questionnaire, 89% of students positively assessed and noted that this
discipline was useful for them, for 7% of students this discipline was not
useful, and 4% of students did not answer on this question. One of the forms of
learning that needs further improvement is a lecture. Therefore, it was
important for us to know from the students how much the lecture material was
useful for their preparation for practical classes. On 61-100% a lecture
material was used by 47% of students to prepare for practical classes. On
31-60% the lecture material was used by 46% of students to prepare for
practical classes. Only 7% of students used 11-30% of the lecture material for
studying discipline. When questionnaire students about the drawbacks of
conducting lectures on-line, 88% of students answered that disadvantages were
absent and 12% of students informed the presence of disadvantages caused by
poor internet. Thus, the distance form of learning, being widely introduced
into the educational process, requires further improvement of material -
technical providing and the usage of new learning approaches in various forms of
student learning. Continuous study of student opinion, which is conducted
through on-line questionnaire, will improve the learning process and eliminate
its drawbacks in distance learning.