Introduction: A May survey revealed online learning challenges and a preference for on-demand video (70%) over real-time interactive formats. However, some students suggested format preference varied by subject. This study investigated these subject-specific preferences.
Methods: Between November 18-30, 2020, a survey was conducted at Teikyo Heisei University’s Department of Health and Medical Sciences, targeting 1st-4th year students (n=228) aiming for the clinical engineering national exam. 176 responses were collected (77% response rate). Students were asked which format they preferred for specific subjects.
Results: 43 students preferred on-demand for all subjects, while 6 preferred real-time for all. The most preferred on-demand subjects were "General Pathology" (8), followed by "Anatomy and Physiology," "Clinical Physiology," and "Artificial Organ Systems" (4 each). The most preferred real-time subjects were "Mechanical Engineering" (14), followed by "Electrical Engineering" and "Electronic Engineering" (7 each). Medical subjects were generally preferred in on-demand format, while engineering subjects were preferred in real-time.
Conclusion: On-demand's flexibility and replayability were popular. However, the study suggests tailoring formats: on-demand for memorization-heavy medical subjects and real-time for calculation-based engineering subjects, allowing for immediate Q&A.
