Effects of Blended Learning on Pharmacy Student Learning Satisfaction and Learning Platform Preferences in a Team-based Learning Pharmacy Experiential Course: A Pilot Study

블렌디드 러닝을 활용한 팀 기반 학습 실습 수업에서 약학대학 학생의 학습만족도와 플랫폼 선호도: 예비 연구

Background: With the emergent transition of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for online/offline blended learning that can effectively be utilized in a team-based learning (TBL) course has emerged. Methods: We used the online metaverse platforms, Gather and Zoom, along with face-to-face teaching methods in a team-based Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) course and examined students' learning satisfaction and achievement, as well as their preferences to the learning platforms. A survey questionnaire was distributed to the students after the IPPE course completion. All data were analyzed using Excel and SPSS. Results: Students had high levels of course satisfaction (4.61±0.57 out of 5) and achievement of course learning objectives (4.49±0.70 out of 5), and these were positively correlated with self-directed learning ability. While students believed that the face-to-face platform was the most effective method for many of the class activities, they responded that Gather was the most effective platform for team presentations. The majority of students (64.3%) indicated that blended learning was the most preferred method for a TBL course. Conclusion: Students in a blended TBL IPPE course had high satisfaction and achievements with the use of various online/offline platforms, and indicated that blended learning was the most preferred learning method. In the post-COVID-19 era, it is important to utilize the blended learning approach in a TBL setting that effectively applies online/offline platforms according to the learning contents and activities to maximize students' learning satisfaction and achievement.