“Am I Ready for This Change?”:Challenges in Optimizing the Use of Online Learning in Medical and Health Professions Education During the Pandemic and Beyond

The extraordinary changes in teaching and learning in higher education and medical and health professions education in particular due to the COVID-19 pandemic have positioned online learning to be one of the cores of adaptation. Despite their potentials, it is realized that the competency attainment related to psycho-motoric and patient management skills cannot always be addressed comprehensively with this approach. The technology-enhanced learning including online learning can facilitate and foster the teaching–learning process, yet the real experience in workplace-based setting is still needed. The necessary changes in the teaching and learning involve adaptation from the system as well as the teachers and students. Such adaptation can be very challenging for some teachers and students given different access to resources, levels of adaptability in using technology, personal teaching or learning concepts and approaches etc. Given the importance of inclusivity and recognition of diversity and equity for teaching and learning using current approaches during the pandemic, it is pertinent to explore the challenges in adaptation in the new learning environment from students and teachers point of views. This chapter will provide a review on theoretical concepts and factors that should be considered in online learning in medical and health professions education context, to ensure the inclusivity of teachers and students from the diverse backgrounds.