Comparison of learning outcome between face-to-face learning and online learning in terms of pharmacology in a school of dentistry

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has made face-to-face classes difficult to be held. In response to this disaster, online classes have been launched to ensure learning opportunities for students in the university. However, it remains unknown how this shift of educational methods affects the learning outcome especially of the dental school. In this study, we evaluated the educational effectiveness of online classes of pharmacology on third- and fourth year of Nihon University School of Dentistry, in comparison to face-to-face classes. The scores on the examination questions （EQs） of online classes were compared to those of face-to-face classes. The EQs of online classes were consisted of both newly made EQs and the same EQs that were on the former examinations. The mean correct answer rate of the online classes was lower than that of the face-to-face classes, while the discrimination index, which reflects the validity of EQs, was higher in the online classes. This suggests a possibility that the difficulty of EQs is different between online and face-to-face classes. In the analysis of the same EQs, there was no significant difference in the correct answer rate and the discrimination index. We also evaluated students’ impression for both classes by questionnaire surveys, and found their high level satisfaction with online classes. These results suggest that online classes produce comparable students’ learning outcomes and satisfaction as well as face-to-face classes.