Academic performance of the students in the subject General and Pharmaceutical Microbiology (MGyF) in pre-pandemic, pandemic and post-pandemic periods.

BRAVI V; SILVERO, MJ ; ROCCA, D; PONCE PONTE, M; LOPEZ VIDAL L; MENDEZ IZARES C; BECERRA M C; ALOVERO F

Rosario

Congreso; VII reunion RICIFA; 2023

Introduction University education is going through methodological changes originated by socioeconomic-technological needs. Furthermore, the emergence of the COVID19 pandemic in 2020 caused a challenge in the educational field, proposing new didactic teaching strategies. Objective The aim of this work was to evaluate the academic performance of the students in the subject General and Pharmaceutical Microbiology (MGyF) (FCQ, UNC), before, during and after the COVID 2019 pandemic. Methodology Three periods were considered for the quantitative analysis, 2018-2019 (pre-pandemic), 2020-2021 (pandemic) and 2022 as post-pandemic. The promotion exams have been evaluated by writing methodology, considering the approval note 6/10 (60%).Results The results obtained show that an average of 84 students have taken the promotion exams in the period 2018-2022. In the pre-pandemic period, 52% of students approved the subject with an average grade of 7.68 (out of 10). During the pandemic, when virtual exams were administered, 75% of students passed with an average grade of 7.72. With the return to face-to-face system, 33% of the students approved with an average grade of 7.96. The best grades stand out in the year 2021 with a value of 8.3 in average. The percentages of approved students with respect to the enrolled students at the subject were also calculated for each year. The results obtained showed an increase in the percentage of approved students over the years, with 41% relative to 85% in 2018, 55% relative to 65% in 2019, 75% relative to 86% in 2020, 80% relative to 83% in 2021 and 71.4% relative to 74% in 2022. The percentage of students passing the subject relative to the enrolled students increased over the years, with some fluctuations. Conclusion Comparing the three periods analyzed, it could be observed that in the pandemic period the percentage of students who approved the virtual exam was 77% of those who showed up to take it, 48% in pre-pandemic and 71% in post-pandemic. This increase in pass rates could be attributed to factors such as increased study time due to health restrictions at the pandemic time. However, the acquisition of practical skills and abilities as part of a comprehensive training were affected by not performing practical work. In summary, our work demonstrates that the COVID-19 pandemic forced educational institutions to adapt and innovate in their teaching methods. The incorporation of diverse didactic strategies appears to have contributed to improved academic performance. However, it is also important to acknowledge the challenges related to practical skills development that emerged during the pandemic. This data may provide valuable insights for educators and institutions as they continue to navigate the evolving landscape of higher education.