Medical Students' Take on Online vs. In-Class Anatomy Learning

Distance education has popped up as a big deal in medical schools, promising wider access and up-to-date content. But when COVID-19 hit, lots of students found themselves taking anatomy classes online overnight. This wasn't just a thing in 2020—even natural disasters like the 2023 earthquakes made remote learning necessary again. So, how's this virtual vs. face-to-face learning working out for medical students? Let's dive in. Remote learning isn't new, but the pandemic sure made it common. Suddenly, students were logging into virtual classrooms, staring at digital cadavers instead of the real thing. Some loved the flexibility, while others missed hands-on practice. The 2023 earthquakes brought similar shifts, showing that online learning can be a quick solution in tough times.The impact of these changes isn't the same for everyone. Some students thrive online, citing easier access to notes and the chance to review lectures anytime. Others struggle, feeling like they're missing out on crucial hands-on experiences and social interactions. It's clear that while distance education has its pros, it also comes with cons that can't be ignored. The shift to remote learning also brought up questions about how medical education should adapt. Should schools invest more in virtual labs? Should they find ways to blend online and in-person learning? These aren't easy questions, but they're important ones if medical education wants to keep up with the times. When thinking about this, it's also crucial to consider how different disasters affect learning. Earthquakes, pandemics—these aren't just about shifting classes online, but also about how students cope and adapt in extreme situations. No one solution fits all, and schools need to be ready to support students through whatever comes their way.