COVID-19 and E-Learning: the Challenges of Students in Tertiary Institutions

Abstract

<jats:p>Problems associated with the transition from conventional learning (face to face) to online learning (e-learning) in the educational system are well documented. The present study explores the challenges students in tertiary institutions have reported facing in online learning in the era of coronavirus pandemic. Using a sample (n = 141), an initial principal component factor analysis was conducted to group the constructs. Eight groups that emerged were social issues, lecturer issues, accessibility issues, learner motivation, academic issues, generic issues, learner intentions, and demographics. Cronbach’s alpha was used to determine the reliability of the scales resulting in the deletion of learner motivation. Comparing the means of the factors revealed that the most important challenge for students to study online was accessibility issues. This was followed by social issues, lecturer issues, academic issues, and generic issues. The mean for the individual items in learners’ intention to study online showed that students were not ready to study online. A Multiple Regression Analysis was further conducted to determine which factors pose the most important challenges to the student’s decision to study online. Social issues and lecturer issues were significant. In the final model, only lecturer issues were significant. A blended approach-where conventional teaching is combined with online teaching should have ushered the learners to complete online learning.</jats:p>

Impeding Factors Towards the Effectiveness of Online Learning During Covid-19 Pandemic among Social Sciences Students

“…The students believed that the internet data is expensive, limitation on internet access and devices lead to difficulties for them to participate in online learning. This is in line with previous studies conducted by Adedoyin and Soykan (2020), Hawati and Jarud (2020) and Aboagye et al (2020). Internet and devices are important for students and academicians during online learning.…”

“…Most of the students preferred face-to-face learning compared to the online learning. Aboagye, Yawson and Appiah (2020) also supported that the students were not ready to adapt and lack of motivation during online learning. A study conducted in Malaysia by Allam, Hassan, Mohideen, Ramlan and Kamal (2020) confirmed that the students lack of motivation during online learning.…”

“…The questionnaire was divided into two sections, which were demographics and impeding factor section. For impeding factor section, the questions were adapted from Aboagye et al (2020). The SPSS was used to analyze the data and the descriptive analysis (frequency and mean analysis) were conducted to answer the research objective.…”

“…Based on reviews from previous studies, this study divides the impeding factors into three important variables which are social (Gilbert, 2015;Aboagye et al, 2020), accessibility (Sarvestani, Mohammadi, Afshin, & Raeisy, 2019;Gilbert, 2015, Mathew & Iloanya, 2016, Aboagye et al, 2020 and academician capability (Aboagye et al, 2020) faced by the students during online learning.…”

“…Sarvestani et al (2019) pointed out that instead of infrastructure and technology, students also faced the limitation on software and hardware which is the main requirement for online learning. Analysis conducted among students by Aboagye et al (2020) in Ghana determined that accessibility is the main challenge faced by them during online learning. Apart from that, other issues were also discussed by them such as lack of technology and devices, browsers issues, internet coverage and high cost of internet data.…”