Digital Education in Times of COVID-19: The Experience of Medical Educators.

Abstract

Medical and health education is characterized by its situated teaching, where students develop their competencies in the clinical field and where the interactions between the teacher, the student, and the patient play a vital role in academic success. The outbreak of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) has forced many schools worldwide to change their teaching model, moving from face-to-face to virtual instruction (online education), which for the educator in medicine and health sciences has resulted in breaking the teaching paradigm towards the use of technology. The objective of this research is to describe the perception of the professors in the School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Tecnologico de Monterrey about their transition to distance education during the period of the health contingency. The research presented uses a quantitative method with a non-experimental design and descriptive analysis. In this study participated 141 medical and health educators. The results indicate that the participants have experienced a paradigm shift in the integration and appropriation of technology, being able to recognize advantages and disadvantages and break with pre-established beliefs. This study concludes that the model established by the university accomplished its purpose, leading to the adoption of technology by professors and the establishment of a favorable environment for academic continuity. Moreover, this study points to better acquisition of knowledge for Faculty Development by identifying strengths, opportunities, weaknesses, and threats.