Table 2.

Excerpts from the responses to the survey

Which were in your opinion the major benefits of online teaching?
Convenience	• No need to waste time on commuting • Simple to organize, no need to go through whole city for another event • You can participate in class from anywhere. • More flexible about my time schedule • It’s easier to take notes and deal with time management • Learning materials can be shared in an easy and fast way
Enhanced quality	• Shared presentations were really good • Great benefit from pre-recorded lectures - potential to re-watch and re-learn. • Was able to view the contents better online than trying to get a glance at the projector screens during lectures. • It’s easier for me to understand the lecturer online than in a lecture hall. • I enjoyed most live broadcasts from the clinics or an operation room
Comfort	• We can sleep longer and be more focused • Ability to enter the webinar in my own room, get in my favorite robe, make coffee and learn new things • We can attend lectures without leaving home and stay in our comfortable space
Safety	• Lower risk of exposure to Covid; it is safer for us, our families and patients • We can avoid contacts with people in lecture halls or in public transport
Computer competence	• I could improve my computer skills, preparing presentations or graphs • I feel more confident with internet platforms or other digital tools
What were the major problems which you have experienced during online teaching?
Unsatisfactory content	• Lack of contact with patient and lack of learning practical skills. • Practical aspects of subjects will never be the same on a video compared to real life. Also lack of discussion with peers during classes. • Monotonous presentations, not involving students, little chance for active participation • The interaction between teachers and students is greatly impaired and less personal. It is more difficult to ask questions and get feedback because you can’t see them in person.
Technical issues	• Weak internet connection • Technical difficulties on both sides i.e. student and teacher • Problems with platforms - unstable connection, server failures or limited number of participants allowed.
Difficulties engaging	• No motivation, I find classes boring and not enjoyable. • Long/disorganized days, difficulty concentrating, lots of screen time. • Don’t learn as much as if it would be in person. This all have lead to lack of motivation
Lack of social interactions	• Personal contact with other students missing. I think that’s very important. And for me a huge motivator. • The social aspect of seeing and interacting with your colleagues is missing, which is very important and can be detrimental to mental health
Poor institutional organization	• The departments use different tools even though one platform has been picked to be the main one. It takes a lot of time to send every homework and report etc. Materials are widespread through mails, websites ... difficult to find them and put together. • Sometimes meetings are longer than they are scheduled or lectures are postponed. The information about schedule not always updated on time. • The overload of the material that we have to learn. There is much more material to manage before the test - and much less time for that
Has online teaching influenced your own studying? If yes, in which manner?
• I have to spend a lot more time to teach myself something, it has practically become self teaching at this point. • I find it harder to concentrate, more easily distracted. It got me out of my regular study routine, which is really hard. • I’m less motivated and feel left alone with the stuff we have to learn without any advice or feedback. • It demands from me more discipline • I spend more time studying for the subjects that particularly interest me (more energy to do so, less tired than after normal classes) • I moved digital - make notes in computer and look up a lot of resources online