Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Imperceptible learners: Students’ reasons for keeping webcams off and strategies to address students’ challenges

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Huma Farid
. Tania A. Siddiqui 1
. Rashna H. Sukhia 2
. Sana Jalil Hasan
. Ayesha Naveed 3
. Lubna Pasha

1 Department of Orthodontics, Foundation University College of Dentistry and Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan

2 Department of Surgery, Section of Dentistry, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan

3 Department of Medical Education, Combined Military Hospital, Lahore Medical College and Institute of Dentistry,Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract
BACKGROUND: “Should students keep their webcams on or off during synchronous online classes?”
is an unanswered question with educators’ opinions divided on this aspect. Along with educators’
perspectives, it is also important to unfold students’ perspectives on this question. The objectives
of this study were to determine the routine and opinion of students’ regarding webcam usage and
identification of students’ reasons for not using webcams during online learning.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross‑sectional study was carried out at Margalla Institute of Health
Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Census was done for data collection by including all dental students(n=180)
enrolled at the institute attending synchronous online preclinical and clinical operative dentistry classes.
Data collection was carried out using a self‑administrated questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was used to
describe survey item responses. Pair‑wise differences between demographic categories (female vs. male,
and preclinical vs. clinical) were analyzed using the Pearson Chi‑Square test. Correlation of routine and
opinion with students’ reasons were done using Spearman correlation. Ordinal regression analysis was
done to associate routine and opinion with reasons. The level of significance (P value) was set at 0.05.
RESULTS: Out of 180 students, 141 submitted the survey form, with a response rate of 77.47%. The
majority of the students (n = 117, 83%) used to keep their webcams off during online classes and
were (n = 69, 48.9%) of the opinion that webcams should be kept off during online classes. The most
common reasons for keeping the webcam off during online classes were “comfort” (n = 87, 61.7%)
and “distractions” (n = 84, 59.6%). A statistically significant association of gender was obtained, with
females more likely than males due to distraction, self‑consciousness, and appearance (P = 0.000,
0.003, and 0.016, respectively). The odds of gender highly influenced routine use of cameras, and
this was statistically significant (OR: 3.478, P = 0.011). Students tended to keep their webcam off
when they were inattentative during online classes (OR; 3.743, P < 0.001).
CONCLUSION: The majority of the students did not agree to keep the webcam on during online
synchronous learning. The main reasons for students’ reluctance to keep the webcam on were
self‑consciousness, surrounding consciousness, distractions, and technological issues. Students
can be encouraged to turn the webcam on by framing strategies according to students' concerns.

Keywords

Distance education
distance learning
online learning
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 12, Issue 9
October 2022
Pages 1-10

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