Distance learning through the eyes of medical students of the 6th course of Bukovinian State Medical University

Abstract

Summary. Time dictates the use of information technology in medical education. Recent realities have shown that higher education institutions need to make the transition to distance education in a short period of time. The article includes the importance of online learning, describes the possibilities of integrating distance learning for practical classes in higher medical education, the ways to provide educational materials and options for monitoring the implementation of the curriculum. The article emphasizes that self-education plays a significant role in distance learning, and the role of a teacher becomes a mentor who organizes independent learning of students, develops their professional level and creative potential. As a demonstration of their own experience of online learning, the results of a survey of Ukrainian-speaking medical students of the 6th year of the specialty «Medical Affairs» on distance learning in the discipline «Children’s Infectious Diseases» are presented. The survey involved 72 respondents who studied remotely during March-May 2020. 94.4% of respondents were satisfied with the online format of classes on childhood infectious diseases in the 6th year. A significant proportion of respondents (63.4%) noted an increase in time for independent preparation for classes and information retrieval. Among the factors that make it difficult to study online, almost 34% of respondents noted personal disorganization, almost 27% - indicated the need to combine study and work. Distance learning can be considered as an alternative way of learning in higher medical school to master the theoretical material, however, as for mastering the practical part of learning to implement the acquisition of all competencies provided by the curriculum, of course, priority remains offline learning.