Opinion assessment of students about distance education: advantages and disadvantages of a new format of training

Abstract

This article addresses the issue of transition to distance learning, including those caused by introduction of a high-alert regime related to spreading a new coronavirus infection. As a result, modern society faced a new, equally important task aimed to develop a convenient educational system that provides high-quality education in the changing conditions of modern reality. Academic institutions nowadays study innovation most intensively and develop strategies to help educators becoming more efficient and technically save. Leaving the traditional form of teaching has opened up the possibility of a more flexible and dynamic learning process. The authors consider positive and negative aspects of this form of organizing educational activities by both students and teaching staff, list the difficulties faced by students and teachers in the training process. The system of distance education in our country is not perfect yet. The technology of organizing the assessment of the distance learning quality allows identifying shortcomings and their causes in the system. Therefore, the paper presents the results of the 1st year student questionnaires at the Dental Faculty of South-Ural State Medical University of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation. Its purpose was to assess the satisfaction of students with the quality of organization, the distance learning content, as well as outline ways of further development and prospects for using remote educational technologies at a medical university. Remote educational technologies are a modern and popular way to implement educational programs, which on one hand allows students to choose a convenient time mode for learning material. However, the survey results show that the quality of distance learning is lower compared to traditional full-time education.