A comparative study on the perspectives of CEU-manila SOP community on flexible and face-to-face learning modalities: Pharmacy education in the new normal

Pharmacy Education has the goal of educating and training individuals around the world. Face-to-face learning is essential in pharmacy education since there are skills that must be developed and monitored by instructors. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacy education has shifted to distance learning and learning strategies such as flexible learning modality. This study aims to differentiate the viewpoints of the CEU-Manila SOP Community towards their preparedness, attitudes, and challenges in flexible and face-to-face learning modalities. A descriptive-quantitative cross-sectional study was employed using a convenience sampling technique. 166 junior pharmacy students, 126 senior pharmacy students and 13 faculty members of SOP were the participants of this study. The survey instrument was based on a research study conducted by Mohammad S. Shawaqfeh and colleagues, year 2020. The data was then interpreted and analyzed using the Paired T-test, frequency distribution, weighted mean, standard deviation, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and ANOVA test. The study showed that there is a significant difference between the preparedness, attitude, and challenges of students and faculty in flexible and face-to-face learning modalities. According to the findings, respondents are more prepared and have a positive attitude toward face-to-face learning than flexible learning, while students are more challenged by flexible learning than face-to-face learning. This would help address and develop learning and teaching strategies that are beneficial to students and faculty. Nonetheless, the sudden shift in the learning modalities would not hinder the SOP community from achieving and providing a quality pharmacy education.