investigating the effectiveness of online learning in the post-coronavirus (covid-19) era from the perspectives of students and faculty members of selected universities of medical sciences in iran

Background: online learning is a form of virtual learning that is being organized and implemented across universities of medical sciences in developing countries.objectives: the present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of online learning from the perspectives of students and faculty members at selected universities of medical sciences in the post-coronavirus (covid-19) era in iran.methods: this descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2023 at zanjan university of medical sciences, iran university of medical sciences, and shahed university among faculty members and undergraduate students of nursing, midwifery, anesthesiology, and operating room. a stratified random sampling method and the online learning effectiveness assessment questionnaire were employed in this study. descriptive statistics and inferential statistical tests, such as chi-square, fisher's exact test, and pearson's correlation coefficient, were used for data analysis.results: this study involved 286 students and 61 faculty members. from the perspectives of faculty members, online learning components, including teaching-learning activities, feedback, flexibility, assistance, motivation, and evaluation, demonstrated a desirable effectiveness, while the components of content, page design, and educational materials exhibited a moderate effectiveness. however, workload was deemed to have an undesirable effectiveness. from the students' perspectives, the components of content, teaching-learning activities, page design, feedback, workload, assistance, motivation, and evaluation were reported to have a desirable effectiveness, whereas educational materials and flexibility were reported to have an undesirable effectiveness.conclusion: the effectiveness of online learning in the post-covid-19 era has been reported to be high among both students and faculty members. given that online learning infrastructure was established compulsorily during the covid-19 era and this method of instruction has not been abandoned in the post-covid-19 era, its blended use with in-person instruction can enhance the quality of education among students and faculty members.