Perceptions of Students for Sudden Movement from Face-To-Face Teaching to Online Learning Environment

Valentina Haxhiymeri (Xhafa)

Abstract

Abstract This paper is focused on the exploration of students` learning experiences of Education Sciences` Faculty, at the University of Elbasan, Albania, during the period of sudden movement from teaching in auditorium to the online learning environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the study was to identify the positive and negative aspects of online learning as experienced by students, as well as to find out their preference for the forms of higher education delivery (face-to-face, hybrid, online) in the future. The methodology used in this study includes an item-based questionnaire to collect data which was developed through a web-based application known as Google Forms and was delivered to students via the Internet. Qualitative and quantitative analysis was undertaken for the answers obtained by the open-ended and closed-ended questions. The results of the study showed that the biggest challenge for students was the immediate adaptation to the form of distance learning. The majority of them reported having internet-related problems, lack of available digital tools, insufficient level of digital competence and difficulty in understanding the lessons in terms of independent learning. Partly students showed a positive attitude towards the integration of online learning at university in the future. The study concluded that new reality created by COVID-19 tested the current capacity of higher education institutions regarding the ICT integration process in teaching. As this process was progressing very slowly, universities were found unprepared to transfer the teaching process from the auditorium to the online environment with the same quality. In order to meet the demands of the future, it is imperative that every university to plan strategically the increase investment towards its digital transformation. Keywords: student learning experiences, online learning, face-to-face teaching, hybrid model of teaching, higher education digital transformation. Field: Social sciences (Education)


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