Barriers and motivation for online learning among pharmacy students in Jordan

Abstract

Purpose: To explore the barriers and motivations of pharmacy students towards online learning in Jordan, as well as the students’ inclinations towards taking online courses in the future.Methods: This cross-sectional study is based on a questionnaire that was distributed from May 20th to December 20th, 2020 to pharmacy students in Jordan. Data were collected and analyzed.Results: A total of 600 pharmacy students responded, and all the participants had previously taken online courses. The highest ranked items on the participants' motivation towards online learning are its convenience in terms of time and location (92.8 %), and getting good grades in online courses (81.7 %). The main barriers were lack of collaboration and interaction (57.5 %), and feelings of disconnection during online learning (56.5 %).Conclusion: This study reveals a positive attitude among pharmacy students on the effectiveness of online learning. Most respondents appreciate the convenience of online learning in terms of time and location. However, lack of collaboration and interaction, and feelings of disconnection during online learning are major barriers.