Teaching and Learning Experiences in Medical Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case of Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUCo), Tanzania

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this paper was to share teaching and learning experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and mandated university closure. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among all eligible students and faculty members using voluntary anonymous questionnaires. To capture the attitudes and perceptions of respondents, five-point Likert scale questions were used. Results A total of 865 (58%) students and 57 (51%) faculty members participated in the survey. Uptake of e-learning platforms increased by 15.4% for students, 43.0% for faculty and by 22.3% in courses. The overall students’ strength of consensus measure of perception on accessibility of platforms was 65% and support entities 79%. About 70% of students owned a smartphone as a learning device. More than 67% of the students highlighted the cost of Internet bundles as a major challenge. Conclusion Shifting from blended learning to online learning during the lockdown was feasible given the pre-planned e-learning practices.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• online learning
• blended learning
• students and faculty experiences