Virtual classes conducted during COVID-19 pandemic - Medical students' perspective

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in shifting of medical education onto a virtual platform. This has provided us with an opportunity to assess and analyse the students perception of these virtual classes which otherwise did not form a significant part of the traditional medical education. The objective of the study was to assess medical students' perception on virtual classes conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire consisting of 21 questions was administered to students studying in all phases of MBBS in our college using Google Forms. A response rate of 73% was achieved. Results: The response of the students when analysed showed limited perceived benefits of virtual classes, these included accessibility to recorded lectures and convenience of attending classes in the time of pandemic. Drawbacks include decreased levels of social interaction, internet connectivity issues and absence of practical's/ clinicals to better correlate with theory topics. Low motivational levels to attend classes, decreased engagement in classes and decreased perceived knowledge gained were also significant limitations. Conclusion: Better internet connectivity along with accessibility to recorded classes and increased student-teacher interaction could enhance the learning experience of the students in the virtual platform.