An evaluation of online pharmacy classes: the case for a complexity spectrum design

Abstract

Different modalities for Pharmacy education are needed including expanding into the online environment in which quality learning was previous thought to be unachievable. This study demonstrates that quality learning, measured through student self-reported constructs of Mezirow’s Transformative Learning Theory (TLT), can effectively occur online in varying degrees based on the complexity classes and the underlying structural design of the online classes. Three online courses from the Pharmacy Learning Collaborative (PLC) were analyzed to identify critical success factors, considering design features and instructional team engagement, alongside economic costs, with the goal of creating a regression model to compare the potential amount of revenue versus the amount of effort and potential quality in each course. Method: Mixed methods retrospective study uses qualitative measures of TLT and quantitative analyses, including chi-square tests, regression, and ANOVA in SAS®. Data: Primary data were drawn from the Canvas LMS, UMN documentation, student reflection papers, activities, and satisfaction surveys. Results: Among 895 students enrolled, 858 completed the courses. High self-reported knowledge gains from constructs of TLT were observed across courses: 76.9% in “Fundamentals of Pharmacotherapy,” 89% in “Foundations of Health Literacy,” and 95% in “Drugs and the U.S. Healthcare System.” All courses showed strong evidence of TLT. Extensive design features could support greater enrollment and revenue, while fewer features also demonstrated potential for revenue benefits on a per-student basis. Conclusion: A collaborative consortium of online courses with a centralized structure may better achieve varied learning and economic goals. Quality can occur in fully online courses with intentional design. More design-intensive courses demand greater instructional resources but may yield higher returns on investment (ROI) in tuition revenue and enhanced TLT outcomes.