Development of a Scale to Measure the Attitude of Teachers Towards Online Teaching of Veterinary Education

The study focused to develop an attitude scale to measure the attitude of teachers towards teaching in veterinary science through online platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Likert’s technique was used to develop the attitude scale. Overall 91 initial statements were selected which were later scrutinized and only 40 relevant statements were retained after consultation with the supervisor, and subject matter specialists. A total of 140 experts were contacted, with some being reached in person and others via email. Out of these, 30 experts responded within 45 days. After acquiring relevance scores, 18 statements were chosen and administered to 40 teachers from the non-sampling area. Finally, 14 statements comprising 5 positive and 9 negative were kept. The scale's validity and reliability reflect its accuracy and consistency in producing results. The Cronbach's Alpha reliability of the final scale was measured at 0.780. The scale evaluated various aspects, including ease of use, digital competency, drawbacks, effectiveness, and potential improvements in the online teaching of veterinary education. Findings reveal mixed attitudes, with notable concerns about students’ engagement, practical skill development, and the overall efficacy of online veterinary education. This attitude scale will provide valuable insights for educational institutions offering veterinary education aiming to enhance the effectiveness of veterinary education through online platforms and support educators effectively during future challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.