Table 4.
Open c-text comments are arranged as common themes along with representative statements.
| Theme | Indicative statements |
|---|---|
|
Which aspect(s) of virtual courses worked especially well? Recorded live lectures and PPP with voiceover (30)* The flexibility of time management (14) Live sessions (13) Attending from home (15) |
I could watch the recorded lecturers whenever I got the chance The recorded lectures allowed us to pause, rewind, forward, etc No mandatory attendance - The fact that I can learn at my convenience There was no need to attend the lecture at an exact time, which gave me freedom and the ability to organize my week The option of attending live sessions and having recorded lectures to return to I liked online classes because I had plenty of time to manage my studies There was the benefit of saving time as there was no commuting time to the university |
|
Which aspect(s) of virtual courses can be improved? Interaction with faculty (30) Laboratory/demonstration session (8) Small group sessions (9) Faculty's training in the use of technology (5) |
Sometimes it felt like reading off PowerPoints, which was not engaging Keep students engaged (pop questions, dividing topics, short videos, exercises to facilitate engagement) “Communication between doctors and students for example, doctors can have online office hours for a meeting on zoom Lab sessions were difficult to grasp online Conducting PBL and TBL will improve the students learning and outcomes Training faculty more about using technology and avoiding problems such as connection issues (voice suddenly cutting out, or the image freezing) |
|
How did you keep yourself motivated/focused during virtual learning? Interaction with friends and faculty (11) Taking notes during sessions (10) Scheduling the activities and comfort of staying at home (14) By focusing on GPA/grades (13) I couldn't; it was difficult! (19) |
The more interactive, the more it is easier to stay focused. Group studying virtually. Come on! I'm in my house in my pajamas, so I will not be motivated to study the lecture! I had extra time to exercise and balance my studying schedule to keep me focused. I was eating snacks and highlighting essential things in the lecture with the doctor. It was very hard, but I tried setting a routine and keeping a schedule. I would listen to the recordings later when my house was quieter, and I could focus better. Maintaining a high GPA motivated me. Virtual courses were great, but we missed the class interaction so much. |
*Values are the number of similar comments.