Distance or face-to-face education? Perception in two groups of veterinary students after the pandemic

COVID-19 forced us to enable distance learning in order not to stop education altogether. This study aimed to develop a virtual learning environment (VLE) and compare academic performance in face-to-face and distance modalities, as well as students’ perceptions in both types of learning. A virtual learning environment (VLE) was developed in the Moodle platform on a subject of the Veterinary Medicine program. The course was taught both face-to-face and at a distance under the same conditions. The students were evaluated with the same criteria and their perception of the course was assessed with a questionnaire. A total of 11 students enrolled in the distance course and 8 in the face-to-face course. The mean grades were 9 and 10, respectively (p > 0.05). Perception of the course was better in the face-to-face modality in all but one question (p < 0.05). While performance and learning were similar, students preferred the face-to-face environment to the virtual one, as students seemed to value more social interaction. The usefulness of VLEs as a learning strategy has been demonstrated, but they cannot replace social contact.