ABSTRACT
Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, teachers were forced to suddenly adjust their teaching methods. The phenomenon was particularly challenging for teaching laboratory classes at a time of full lockdown. Visual memory shows the personal ability to process images and this type of memory is very important for enhancing learning and processing of information. This experience aimed to develop pedagogical strategies to help the students' learning process in a particular moment, as well as to use the methods developed to enhance future learning of pharmaceutical techniques within pharmacy education. Method(s): Multimedia resources were used to produce short videos of the preparation of laboratory assignments for pharmaceutical technology classes. In synchronous online classes, the videos were watched, commented on, the compounding preparation record was performed and at the end of the class the video was shown once again to consolidate the compounding process. In a first approach, in 2019/2020, students did not repeat the assignments in person and carried out their assessment remotely. In a blended-learning approach, with different students in 2020/2021, they had the opportunity to return to the lab to repeat the experiment protocols viewed online and perform the assessment in person. Result(s): There was no relevant difference between the grades obtained with classical face-to-face teaching (before the pandemic) and with the use of e-learning/blended-learning methodologies. However, students with online exclusive learning reported that they would have liked to repeat the assignments face-to-face in the laboratory. The blended-learning students reported that seeing the videos before the experimental work helped their memory and execution, leading to the perception that the video resources are useful. Conclusion(s): A combination method of multimedia resources to stimulate visual memory and practical execution of the activity may have a synergistic effect on learning and acquisition of practical skills.