Audiology students opinions on distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic: experience from Hacettepe University

Objective: Over the past year, face-to-face education had to be suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the experience and opinions of Audiology students at Hacettepe University on distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: 141 undergraduate students between the ages of 18-50 years enrolled in the undergraduate program in the academic year of 2020-2021 were the target population. An e-questionnaire was prepared to ask for their opinions on distance learning. Results: The participants stated that distance learning contributed the most to their theoretical knowledge and the least to their professional skills. Positive contribution of distance learning to theoretical knowledge was found to be significantly greater in 4th grade students when compared to 1st and 2nd grade students (p<0,05). For its positive contribution to professional skills, the scores of the 2nd grade students were found to be statistically significantly lower than the 1st grade students, whereas the scores of the 4th grade students were significantly lower than the 2nd grade students (p<0,05). Conclusions: Present study contributed significantly to scientific knowledge about the experiences and opinions of Audiology students on distance learning. Current findings may help educators to minimize existing problems and to develop alternative education strategies for the future