Open AccessSri Lankan dental students’ perspective on the effectiveness of e-learning
Author(s) -
Rasika Manori Jayasinghe,
Indika Thilakumara,
Dhanushka Leuke Bandara,
Gishan Edirisinghe,
Manil Fonseka,
Manjula Attygalla,
Ruwan Duminda Jayasinghe
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the asia pacific scholar
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2424-9335
pISSN - 2424-9270
DOI - 10.29060/taps.2021-6-4/oa2415
Subject(s) - e learning , medical education , bachelor , perspective (graphical) , descriptive statistics , psychology , learning styles , medicine , significant difference , blended learning , face to face , dentistry , mathematics education , educational technology , mathematics , statistics , geometry , archaeology , history , philosophy , epistemology
Introduction: E-learning resulted in a revolution in dental education with continuous educational experiences. General objective of this study was to assess the perspective of undergraduate dental students on effectiveness of e-learning in the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programme. Specific objectives were to identify students’ opinion on the factors that promote e-learning, awareness on the effectiveness of using different platforms and social media, barriers imposed and suggestions for the improvement of e-learning in the BDS programme.Methods: This was a cross sectional descriptive study among undergraduate dental students of the Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka using a self-administered pre-tested questionnaire administered via a web-based survey form. Frequencies and percentages were obtained for categorical data and Chi-square test was used to determine the association between variables.Results: The majority received the e-learning experience well. Fifty-four percent of the participants felt it was better compared to traditional face-to-face learning and the difference between the semesters (p=0.000) and genders was statistically significant (p=0.000). Difference in overall satisfaction on e-learning material across the different semesters was statistically significant. Students felt that e-learning should be used as a supplementary tool mainly by means of procedural videos during delivery of the skill component. Fifty percent participants felt that conducting assessments online is fair for all the students.Conclusion: A positive learning experience was achieved through the e-learning modalities in comparison to traditional face-to-face learning though in terms of skills training, e-learning modalities should only be considered as a supplementary tool.