Students' and lecturers' perspective on the implementation of online learning in dental education due to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19): a cross-sectional study

Background On account of physical distancing measures, universities worldwide are strongly affected by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Thus, the dental school of Justus-Liebig-University Giessen (Germany) transferred the established face-to-face learning to online learning in the spring term 2020. The aim of this study was to assess the students' and lecturers' perspectives on the implementation of online learning due to COVID-19, using a questionnaire survey. Methods After the online period, all students and lecturers were asked to fill out an online questionnaire containing evaluative statements regardinghandling, didactic benefit,motivation,andoverall assessment. Furthermore, the questionnaire for lecturers contained additional aspects regardingknowledge gainin terms of providing online learning. Besides that, students and lecturers were asked for the amount of online learning in the future curriculum (independent of COVID-19). Data were subjected to regression analysis and T-test (p < .05). Results 36.8% of students preferred face-to-face learning instead of sole online learning. An increase of know how concerning online teaching was observable for lecturers. Both, students and lecturers, want to keep up with online courses in the future curriculum. However, in terms of the optimal amount of online learning a significant difference between students' and lecturers' perspective was observed. While students suggested 53.2% (24.9) (mean (standard deviation)) lecturers only stated 38.6% (21.5). Conclusions Within the limitation of this study, students' and lecturers' showed a predominantly positive perspective on the implementation of online learning, providing the chance to use online learning even beyond COVID-19 in the future curriculum.