This Is AuburnElectronic Theses and Dissertations

Evaluating Student Satisfaction with Remote Learning in a Veterinary School

Date

2021-08-05

Author

Newcomer, Sara-Louise

Type of Degree

Master's Thesis

Department

Education Foundation, Leadership, and Technology

Abstract

Adult learners make up the entire population of veterinary students. Despite this, veterinary college curricula are generally only offered through face-to-face lectures and laboratories. As a result of a global pandemic, veterinary curricula throughout the United States were required to utilize available technology and the internet to transition all classes from face-to-face to remote learning in the middle of the Spring 2020 semester. With this necessary response to an emergent situation, both veterinary educators and veterinary students were forced to consider the role and opportunity for remote learning (synchronous and asynchronous delivery) in the DVM curriculum. This study explored the potential impact that remote learning opportunities had on veterinary students’ satisfaction. The sample population consisted of a convenience sample of 245 veterinary students from one Southeastern veterinary college who were asked to complete the end-of-semester course evaluation, which included five additional statements pertaining to remote learning. This study was performed to hopefully provide insight into possible changes that could be made in the future as veterinary medical education seeks to further utilize advancing technology and increase flexibility in learning while still providing a high-quality professional education. Measures of dispersion and frequency were used to analyze the data. For both groups, the overall Likert-type score was M= 2.93 (SD = 1.69) for the first remote learning statement which demonstrated that the combined mean of both groups slightly disagreed to preferring streaming live lectures over watching recorded lectures. Regarding the remaining four remote learning statements, responses indicated overall agreement from both groups; these statements pertained to length of lecture, support for remote learning and available resources for remote learning.