• Beena K G

Abstract: The subject Anatomy is known as Rachana sharir in the curriculum of Ayurvedic Medical Education. All Ayurveda Medical Colleges under Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS) were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The KUHS has instructed all institutions to teach theory and practical portions as per syllabus through online classes and all institutions started online teaching from March 2020 instead of regular classes. The closure of these Institutions has caused challenges in teaching due to lack of experience in online teaching and preparing study materials. This study focuses on the challenges in teaching anatomy faced by the teachers of Anatomy (Rachana sharir) under KUHS during the period of COVID-19. Descriptive census study was conducted in Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda College, Ollur, Thrissur, Kerala to find out the challenges of faculty members of Ayurveda Medical Colleges of Kerala in teaching Anatomy through on line. After obtaining informed consent, structured self-administered closed ended questionnaire was sent to 32 teachers through online platform and 31 responses were received. Out of 31 teachers in the Department of Rachana sharir 58% (18) were designated as Associate Professors, 29% (9) as Assistant professors and 13% (4) as Professors respectively with mean experience of 9.2 ± 5.9 years. It is observed that most of the teachers were having neither experience (77.4%) nor sufficient knowledge and skill (65%) in online teaching platform. 45% of teachers were using audio, video, PPT, notes or other tools for online teaching. 65% of teachers were confident (Grade 4 and 5) in conducting online classes during the period of Covid-19. But 68% teachers believed that effective communication is not possible through online platform. Most of the teachers (74%) were not satisfied with completing the teaching module. 48% of teachers were in opinion that learning and teaching resources on the online platform are not in accordance with the curriculum. 81% of teachers believed that class room teaching is more effective than online classes. 90% of teachers felt that the dissection in the cadaver is not possible through online classes and all of them opine that demonstration via online class is not sufficient for dissection. Most of the teachers (84%) felt difficulty in assessing the students through online. Teachers should adopt and integrate technology in teaching-learning process. Training should be provided to teachers to enable them to deliver contents to students through online platform. Moodle like platforms can be used for effective conduction of examinations. Dissection-based instruction can be avoided and alternative method of instruction such as prosection and multimedia resources can be used during this pandemic. It is advisable to get feedback from students at the end of each session. Adequate support provided by faculty and good quality teaching tools will help online teaching more effective.

COVID-19, Ayurveda, Rachana sharir, online anatomy teaching, cadaveric dissection, prosection, challenges in teaching

"Challenges in Online Anatomy Teaching (Rachana Sharir) in Ayurveda Medical Colleges of Kerala During the Period of Covid-19", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.7, Issue 11, page no.123-128, November-2020, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2011020.pdf

"Challenges in Online Anatomy Teaching (Rachana Sharir) in Ayurveda Medical Colleges of Kerala During the Period of Covid-19", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.7, Issue 11, page no. pp123-128, November-2020, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2011020.pdf