Developing, Validating, and Implementing a Tool for Measuring the Readiness of Medical Teachers for Online Teaching Post-COVID-19: A Multicenter Study

Background While online education is by no means a new concept, it was recently thrust into the spotlight after school campuses all over the world were forced to close because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The sudden need to shift revealed emerging challenges to online teaching, both logistic and personal. One important challenge is the ability to assess the readiness of educators for online teaching, so that appropriate and specific feedback/training can be offered to those in need. This study aims at developing, validating, and implementing a tool to measure the teachers’ readiness for online teaching in three medical schools from three different countries. Methods This was a multi-center, cross-sectional study that involved developing a survey through review of literature and previous studies, item development and revision, and pilot testing. The survey was then distributed electronically to a convenient sample of 217 teaching faculty members of different academic ranks from three medical schools in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. Exploratory factor analysis and reliability study were performed. Descriptive statistics were applied, and the statistical significance level was set at 0.05. Results Factor analysis produced the following five factors: “Online Teaching and Course Design Skills”, “Digital Communication”, “Basic Computer Skills”, “Advanced Computer Skills” and “Using Learning Management Systems”. The tool showed high reliability (alpha = 0.94). Survey results showed highest mean scores for Basic Computer Skills with lower scores for Online Teaching and Course Design Skills and Using Learning Management Systems. ANOVA revealed statistically significant differences between the three studied schools regarding Digital Communication (F=5.13; p=0.007) and Basic Computer Skills (F=4.47; p=0.012) factors. Conclusion The tool proved to be reliable and valid. Results indicated an overall acceptable readiness in the three involved schools, with a need for improvement in “Online Teaching and Course Design” and Using Learning Management Systems.

[1]  J. Mena,et al.  Faculty readiness for online crisis teaching: transitioning to online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic , 2020 .

[2]  M. A. Flores,et al.  COVID-19 and teacher education: a literature review of online teaching and learning practices , 2020 .

[3]  K. Aditya,et al.  Students’ perception and preference for online education in India during COVID -19 pandemic , 2020, Social Sciences & Humanities Open.

[4]  Florence Martin,et al.  Examining Faculty Perception of Their Readiness to Teach Online , 2019, Online Learning.

[5]  C. Schifter.  Faculty Participation in Asynchronous Learning Networks: A Case Study of Motivating and Inhibiting Factors , 2019, Online Learning.

[6]  Youngjoon Kang,et al.  The gap between medical faculty’s perceptions and use of e-learning resources , 2017, Medical education online.

[7]  Glenda H. E. Gay,et al.  An assessment of online instructor e-learning readiness before, during, and after course delivery , 2016, Journal of Computing in Higher Education.

[8]  I. Cherney,et al.  Administrators’ and Faculty’s Perceived Online Education Barriers and The Role of Transformational Leadership at a U.S. University in Lebanon , 2016 .

[9]  I. Cherney,et al.  Perceived Online Education Barriers of Administrators and Faculty at a U.S. University in Lebanon. , 2016 .

[10]  Min-Ling Hung,et al.  Teacher readiness for online learning: Scale development and teacher perceptions , 2016, Comput. Educ..

[11]  Daniel Reynaud,et al.  Navigating Learning Journeys of Online Teachers: Threshold Concepts and Self-efficacy , 2015 .

[12]  Alaattin Parlakkiliç,et al.  E-Learning Readiness in Medicine: Turkish Family Medicine (FM) Physicians Case. , 2015 .

[13]  Zaidatun Tasir,et al.  E-Learning Readiness: A Literature Review , 2014, 2014 International Conference on Teaching and Learning in Computing and Engineering.

[14]  N. Emelyanova,et al.  Introducing a Learning Management System at a Russian University: Students' and Teachers' Perceptions. , 2014 .

[15]  Janet E. Dyment,et al.  Teacher Educators' Readiness, Preparation, and Perceptions of Preparing Preservice Teachers in a Fully Online Environment: An Exploratory Study , 2013 .

[16]  Alireza Hassanzadeh,et al.  Factors affecting university instructors' adoption of web-based learning systems: Case study of Iran , 2013, Comput. Educ..

[17]  Kadriye O. Lewis,et al.  Determining Faculty and Student Readiness for an Online Medical Curriculum , 2012 .

[18]  B. Jean Mandernach,et al.  Faculty Views on the Appropriateness of Teaching Undergraduate Psychology Courses Online , 2012 .

[19]  Abbas Keramati,et al.  The role of readiness factors in E-learning outcomes: An empirical study , 2011, Comput. Educ..

[20]  M. Tavakol,et al.  Making sense of Cronbach's alpha , 2011, International journal of medical education.

[21]  B. Darab,et al.  An eclectic model for assessing e-learning readiness in the Iranian universities , 2011, Comput. Educ..

[22]  Stephen M. Mutula,et al.  A proposed model for evaluating the success of WebCT course content management system , 2010, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[23]  M. Masood,et al.  Assessment of instructors’ readiness for implementing e-learning in continuing medical education in Iran , 2010, Medical teacher.

[24]  D. Bolliger,et al.  Faculty satisfaction in the online environment: An institutional study , 2009, Internet High. Educ..

[25]  J. Michael Spector,et al.  Prioritization of online instructor roles: implications for competency‐based teacher education programs , 2009 .

[26]  Jeanne Schreurs,et al.  E-learning Readiness Analysis (ERA): an e-health case study of e-learning readiness , 2008, Int. J. Knowl. Learn..

[27]  Ryan Watkins,et al.  Assessing Readiness for E‐Learning , 2008 .

[28]  Gwo-Dong Chen,et al.  Surveying instructor and learner attitudes toward e-learning , 2007, Comput. Educ..

[29]  Sanjaya Mishra,et al.  E‐Learning in a Mega Open University: Faculty attitude, barriers and motivators , 2007 .

[30]  H. Pillay,et al.  Validation of the diagnostic tool for assessing Tertiary students’ readiness for online learning , 2007 .

[31]  Jo Ann Lee,et al.  Factors Related to Instructors' Willingness to Participate in Distance Education , 2005 .

[32]  Nick Lee,et al.  The evolution of “classical mythology” within marketing measure development , 2005 .

[33]  Muain H. Jamlan.  Faculty Opinions Towards Introducing e-learning at the University of Bahrain , 2004 .

[34]  N. Lackey,et al.  Making Sense of Factor Analysis: The Use of Factor Analysis for Instrument Development in Health Care Research , 2003 .

[35]  S. Ko,et al.  Teaching Online: A Practical Guide , 2000 .

[36]  R. Cattell.  The Scree Test For The Number Of Factors. , 1966, Multivariate behavioral research.

[37]  H. Kaiser.  The Application of Electronic Computers to Factor Analysis , 1960 .

[38]  J. Moseley,et al.  Computer Attitude of Teaching Faculty: Implications for Technology-Based Performance in Higher Education , 2012, J. Inf. Technol. Educ. Res..

[39]  S. Lloyd,et al.  Faculty-Perceived Barriers of Online Education , 2012 .

[40]  United Arab Emirates,et al.  The role of information technology in e-learning systems success , 2012 .

[41]  Adem Karahoca,et al.  E-learning success model for instructors' satisfactions in perspective of interaction and usability outcomes , 2011, WCIT.

[42]  Jane Klobas,et al.  LMS use and Instructor Performance: The Role of Task-technology Fit , 2011 .

[43]  Apitep Saekow,et al.  E-learning Readiness of Thailand’s UniversitiesComparing to the USA’s Cases , 2011 .

[44]  Patrick R. Lowenthal,et al.  Investigating Perceptions of Teaching Online & F2F , 2008 .

[45]  Abdulhameed Kayode Agboola,et al.  Assessing the Awareness and Perceptions of Academic Staff in Using E-learning Tools for Instructional Delivery in a Post-Secondary Institution: A Case Study , 2006 .

[46]  Clyde W. Holsapple,et al.  Defining, Assessing, and Promoting E‐Learning Success: An Information Systems Perspective* , 2006 .

[47]  S. Naidu,et al.  Trends in faculty use and perceptions of e-learning , 2004 .