Remote teaching in medical education during COVID-19: successful story from Terengganu

• Main Authors: Mohd Faeiz, Pauzi, Siti Norazlina, Juhari
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: L Education (General); LB2300 Higher Education; R Medicine (General)
• Online Access: http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/1806/1/FH03-FP-20-42693.pdf; http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/1806/

Introduction: The best books for medical students are their patients at the bedside. However, COVID-19 pandemic already changed the educational landscape from traditional methods to the virtual classroom. Movement control order (MCO) has made teaching and learning in the hospital, clinical skills laboratory, and tutorial suspended. Methodology: We at Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, conducted novel remote teaching methods such as webinars and Moodle learning management systems (LMS) were used to replace traditional medical teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. We organized webinars for certain topics including anesthesiology and family medicine. These were viewed via WebEx and included medical topics and clinical scenario discussions. Medical webinars were recorded and uploaded to the WhatsApp group. Notes and clinical scenario discussions were uploaded in Moodle LMS, Knowledge, and E-learning Integrated Platform (KeLIP) UniSZA. Results: 32 webinars were organized by us with 448 attendees in total. 12 webinars were uploaded to the WhatsApp group, 12 lecture notes, and 28 clinical scenario discussions were uploaded to KeLIP, a Moodle LMS. 100% of students said they have a chance to ask, 7% had better interaction with lecturers, and 14% had equal quality interaction compare with physical classes. 70% of students prefer physical classes when involving clinical skills. Conclusion: Remote teaching is useful for teaching theory; attendees can watch anywhere, easily recorded for later viewing, no room bookings, and no need for social distancing. However, the main disadvantage of note for airway and anesthetics skills is the inability to obtain hands-on practice. We feel virtual teaching provides continuing teaching and learning during a pandemic crisis.