The Effect of Online Learning on Students' Practical Assessment Results During the COVID-19 Lockdown Period

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Online education was an inevitable approach during the COVID-19 lockdown period. We aimed to determine the effect of online learning on assessment results in courses containing practical learning objectives delivered during the pandemic. Method: A retrospective analysis was performed on the assessment scores in courses conducted during the lockdown and on-campus years. Accumulative and objective structured practical examination scores were used as outcome measures for academic performance. Courses were categorized into pure practical, theory + practical, and pure theory. Results: This study showed that online education increased student scores as evidenced by a higher P-value in theoretical (<0.0001) than pure practical courses (0.033). Discussion. High scores indicate the effectiveness of the implemented online learning and assessment approach. However, potential confounders, such as exam validity, reliability, and misconduct, require further investigation to ensure an optimum and legitimate learning experience in future unforeseen situations. In addition, learning gaps in complex and technical learning objectives (e.g., prepare, perform, and operate) were identified and integrated in the following academic year © 2023 Association of Medical Education in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (AMEEMR). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license (http//creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Sponsored by King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences