New Perspectives in Science Education

Introduction: After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, many medical trainings were conducted virtually. This tutorial were mainly done remotely and based on new technologies or using social networks such as Skyroom, WhatsApp, Telegram or Skype, which made many medical students unable to use face-to-face examinations and trainings. This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the challenges and opportunities of medical education during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and post-COVID-19. Materials and methods: This study was a review that was searched through Google Scholar, PubMed, and SCOPUS databases. Findings: The review of the studies determined that the use of virtual education is appropriate in reducing the limitation of physical attendance and the impossibility of attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic and preventing medical students from falling academically. Advantages: helping to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, not wasting time due to not needing to travel, preventing medical students from dropping out, having more time at home to learn more, the possibility of communicating with international professors and access to course presentation files are available on virtual networks at any time. Disadvantages: the impossibility of conducting medical examinations due to the absence of students, the possibility of cheating in virtual tests, inactivity and weight gain and the higher prevalence of obesity in students, lack of focus on education, Internet disorders and lack of access to the Internet, special limitations in presentation Lessons in social networks Discussion and conclusion: Although the disease of COVID-19 has caused a challenge to education, it causes suitable opportunities for the continuation and foundation of virtual education and to prevent academic failure in the era of COVID-19 and post- COVID-19. Keywords: virtual education, COVID-19, medical education, post-COVID-19.