Students’ Perception Of Practical Training In Online Education During The Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

In the context of pandemic times when human interactions were limited and traditional (face-to-face) education was interrupted, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the perception and attitude of students towards the efficiency of practical training activities (fieldwork, internship, seminars and laboratories) held in the online environment as part of the e-learning that they were subjected to for a whole academic year. Mainly quantitative methods have been used to collect data, analyse and draw conclusions about the research topic, from Likert scale survey questions (which were included in the online questionnaire that had been submitted to the participants at the educational process) to statistical tests using SPSS software. Results revealed the quality of the experience that University students had in terms of alternatives that replaced the traditional training activities. Firstly, in terms of fieldwork, students still consider it indispensable for their professional development no matter how much the technology would ever improve. Secondly, regarding internships, students have indicated the fact that their outcomes related to specific skills were negatively affected by COVID-19. Finally, seminars and laboratories seemed to be easier to attend and adjust compared to fieldwork and internship alternatives due to the adaptability of both professors and students.