Validation of questionnaire regarding online teaching (QOT) during Covid-19 in Karachi, Pakistan

The present study involved an extra-cultural adaptation and validation of questionnaire regarding online teaching (QOT) to know faculty perception, attitude and experiences of online teaching. Cronbach’s alpha was determined for assessing internal reliability of QOT and found to be 0.886, confirmed that the scale have good reliability. Factor Analysis of the scale (Principal Component Analysis) was used to examine factor structure and then trailed by varimax rotation. The items were allocated four sub scales. A survey technique was used for the validation of QOT and the survey was conducted during September-December’ 2020 in private and public universities of Karachi to determine the pharmacy faculty’s perception and experience regarding online teaching. Approximately 35% responded that “It is very easy to prepare and deliver an online course” and 45% opined that “The universities offering Pharm.D should adopt the use of e-learning for teaching in future to complement traditional teaching”. Majority of the faculty were in favor of starting online teaching during pandemic to complete semester on time (72%). However, in-campus courses contribute more to students’ learning than online courses in pharmaceutical sciences (65.5%). The present study summarizes that academic staff did opt online teaching over one-to-one teaching in the lock down situation during Covid-19 pandemic however, they agreed not to replace traditional teaching to online teaching. Teachers recognized some difficulties and challenges during online teaching including difficulty in preparing lecture for online teaching than traditional classroom teaching, shortage of long time training sessions. Female teachers were inclined to online teaching than male and lecturers tend to prefer online teaching compared to senior teachers. Universities and administration should take imperative acts for improving online teaching for better learning during lock down or any other situation where social distancing is required.