Abstract

MALELE-KOLISA, Yolanda et al. Influential factors on dental students' online learning experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic, Gauteng. S. Afr. dent. j. [online]. 2024, vol.79, n.9, pp.476-482. ISSN 0375-1562.  https://doi.org/10.17159/sadj.v79i09.16767.

AIM: This study assessed the perceptions and practices of the 2021 dental student cohort toward online learning. METHODS: In 2021, a cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire to measure practices and perceptions at a tertiary dental school in Gauteng, South Africa. RESULTS: The study had a response rate of 49.4%, with 83 out of 168 students responding. Many of the respondents were female (73.5%). Most students (82%) lived in urban locations, with 62.6% residing at university or private residences. A significant proportion of the students (59%) were self-funding their studies. All students had access to learning devices and the majority (95.2%) had internet access before the lockdown. The students reported their peers (39.8%) and their lecturers (28.9%) as a major influence on online platform use. Almost half (45%-49%) of the students believed that the packaging of online presentations influenced them to use e-learning. When asked about their level of motivation from using e-learning, nearly a third were either "least motivated" or "neutral" about using online tools. Most students (73.5%) preferred not to contribute to online discussions but to observe. Of great concern is that nearly all (97.6%) did not even want the corrective feedback from lectures. Being able to navigate the online platform easily was significantly associated with having internet access before the lockdown (p-value=0.05). Females were more inclined to participate in online discussions than males (p-value=0.04). CONCLUSION: In summary, while neutral views suggest room for improvement, the study highlights the potential of online learning platforms in dental education. This suggests Innovative strategies are needed to make online learning more engaging and exciting. The findings highlight the importance of providing access to online learning tools and ensuring that students are motivated to use them. Regular monitoring through evaluation forms will help assess the effectiveness of online learning platforms.

Keywords : Education; dental; graduate.

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