Faculty willingness for continuing online teaching-post COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: To determine faculty willingness for continuing online education after coronavirus disease-2019 in Pakistan, and to correlate it with perceived gain in experience in online teaching during the pandemic.

Method: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Aziz Fatimah Medical and Dental College, Faisalabad, Pakistan, from January to July 2021, and comprised medical faculty with teaching experience of at least 2 years. Data was collected using an online questionnaire though Google Forms. Multiple regression analysis was done to determine faculty willingness with perceived experience levels in online education. Data was analysed using SPSS 25.

Results: Of the 100 subjects approached, 68(68%) responded; 51(75%) females and 17(25%) males. Of the total, 30(44.1%) participants were aged 33-40 years, 25(37%) were from  Basic Sciences, 27(39.7%) from Clinical Sciences, 16(23.5%) from Allied Health Sciences, and 39(57.4%) had teaching experience <5 years.. Overall, 39(57.4%) participants were willing to continue online education post-pandemic, 20(29.4%) agreed partially and 9(13.2%) did not agree. A positive linear relationship was found between willingness to continue online education and increase in perceived experience level in teaching online (p=0.021).

Conclusion: There was a significant difference between perceived experience level in online teaching before and after the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic. Those with increase in perceived experience level were willing to continue online education.

Key Words: Online education, Post-COVID-19, Faculty, Willingness.