Faculties Perception on Anatomy Teaching and Assessment in Lockdown and Post-lockdown New Normal Phase

For last five-six months in the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) lockdown period the Phase 1 MBBS students were being taught Anatomy theory as well as demonstration topics in online mode. Faculties were new to the mode initially, but gradually they coped up for online teaching. Now, in coming near future, institutes will resume with physical class activities and examinations will be held in departments; in the ‘new normal period’ even when the COVID cases are increasing day-by-day. Aim: This study was an endeavour to explore faculties’ perception in Anatomy teaching and assessment in online teaching and side by side their opinion for planning to resume class and assessment in new normal phase. Materials and Methods: For this amongst the faculties of Anatomy of West Bengal, posted in 17 different medical teaching institutes; included in the Whatsapp group of Anatomical Society of India West Bengal (WB) Chapter; this cross-sectional study was carried on by an online survey using a pre-tested pre-designed structured questionnaire upon 14 questions regarding their perception of online class-cum-assessments as practiced as well as their perception for future post-unlock class sessions and assessment methods; assuring anonymity; with encouragement and support from Anatomical Society of India WB chapter. Out of total 199 faculties 163 responded in time and their responses was tabulated. Results: From the response of 163 faculties, it came out that all faculties taught ‘abdomen’, ‘head and neck’, ‘neuroanatomy’ parts as well as some parts of histology and embryology. Google classroom was most favoured teaching platform followed by Zoom meeting application. Majority (84.6%) of the faculties used to take lecture classes by sharing Power Point Presentation (PPT) during class hours; and 46% used to share the pre-recorded demonstration video of the parts. Only 5% of them felt that by this mode full competency could be achieved for the students. Questions sharing followed by answers writing-scan-mail was the most favoured (88.9%) mode of theory assessments; although 57% faculties used Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) for assessment. In the ‘new-normal phase’ when the college and classes will resume, faculties like to have demonstration classes with ‘mini-group’ and lecture topics to be covered solely in online mode. For theory assessment, MCQs was mostly opted (63.8%) supplemented by camera-observed Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE) in the practical portion (50.3%). Conclusion: This study not only provides the experience shared by faculties in conducting the online teaching of Anatomy in the lockdown phases, but also provides insight in planning of the classes and examinations in the post-lockdown COVID-19 times which can be presented as recommendation to the university, which is yet to plan out the examination in ‘new normal’ era.