Abstract
In this study, I have conducted a survey and views and perspectives of School, college, university students about online classes, specifically regarding their interpretations and experiences of the transition from traditional class-based learning to online learning during COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the main themes extracted from the data refer to the negative aspects of online learning mentioned by students in relation to its disadvantages, such as health and psychosocial problems (e.g., stress, anxiety, decreased motivation, isolation. Loneliness) and online class problem (e.g., misunderstanding, a lack of feedback, additional academical requirements, a lack of challenge, and disengagement).
1.0. Introduction
As of Magh 09, 2079 BS, the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed when a 31- year old student, who has returned to Kathmandu from Wuhan, after that most of the school, colleges, or university institutions in Nepal or worldwide were forced to close their schools, colleges, and university start teaching online though the different platform such as Google meet, Zoom, and others. The change from class-based learning or traditional leaning to remote online learning was swiftly enacted, without the proper preparation or training of both academics and students. The Sudden and “forced” shifted in teaching approach impacted the academic experience of both academics and students and led to a series of social, technical, and psychological challenges. They also had to create learning environments for student teacher doing their preparation in the light of the requirements of teacher education programmes and the conditions in which both university and schools must operate.
Under the pandemic situation, sudden change can be seen in the educational system which introduce on a large scale due to a social crisis like COVID-19 pandemic needs to be discussed both nationally or globally or contextually. A detail analysis is needed to study in relation to different factors that influenced the adopted policies and strategies, e.g., the development level of online learning networks, and previous experience in integrating online learning and class-based learning.
In this study, I have conducted a psychosocial analysis of the transition from traditional or class-based learning to online learning during the pandemic. Online learning is an alternative to tradition learning that requires specific considerations, e.g., a higher involvement on behalf of both academic and students. Online learning mostly required, online learning previous training, rigorous preparation, and a conscious, deliberate acceptance of its advantages and disadvantages. Most of the school/ Colleges had not the technical support for the adaptation of online learning as an alternative during the COVID-19 pandemic, and students were also not prepared for it and did not freely choose it. From the survey with teachers and students, benefits were found under the three main points: -
1.1. Benefit of Online learning during the Pandemic Time: -
Benefit of Remote learning or online learning during the pandemic time conduct on the different themes such as comfort and accessibilities, economy (time and money), and safety (psychological and medical). From the survey with the different teacher, students
comfort and accessibility:
Commodity, physical comfort, familiar environment, online participation, mobility, high accessibility, online resources, more opportunities for synchronous and asynchronous materials, more teaching resources, timetable flexibility, freedom to organise one’s personal time, faster and more efficient communication, feedback, problem solving, and higher attendance to classes
Economy (time and money)
More free time, saving time, saving money, having more time to engage in other activities, more time to spend within one’s family, avoiding public transportation, no delays due to the use of public transportation, having a job, and multitasking
Safety (psychological and medical)
Trust, peacefulness, reduced anxiety, and stress due to face-to-face interactions; less discrimination; less bullying; reduced competitiveness;
openness; tolerance; empathy; relaxation; low risk of COVID-19 infection; and sanitary safety
As the main benefit of the theme, Comfort and accessibilities includes subthemes related to the possibility of staying home within a familiar environment while accessing learning materials and activities that were difficult to use pre-pandemic without going to school, colleges, or university. The third point, Safety, refers to students being able to control their levels of anxiety, stress, and mistrust they were triggered by the traditional learning. Once could argue that remote learning has helped some students to overcome psychological issues such as the ones previously mentioned. Remote learning is also linked to lower levels of competitiveness, discrimination, and bullying.
1.2. Disadvantages of online learning or remote learning
The main point discuss regarding the disadvantages of online learning refers to Health and psychosocial problems, learning process problems, technical problems, and how digital abilities, and Discrimination.
1.2.1 Health and psychosocial problems
Stress, anxiety, lack of focus and attention, lower motivation levels, apathy, boredom, lower work efficiency, tiredness, exhaustion, high levels of screen exposure, back pain, head and eye aches, lack of social contact and physical interaction, lack of face-to-face communication, and loneliness.
1.2.2. Learning process problems
Lack of challenge, low levels of accountability, disengagement, unfriendly learning environment, lower efficiency and quality of teaching, monotony, misunderstandings, disorganisation, lack of feedback, additional academical requirements, higher expectations from lecturers, improper evaluations, academics are unfamiliar with online assessments, high level of suspicion regarding plagiarism intentions/behaviours, lack of appropriate study spaces (home), lack of intimacy, and noises
1.2.3. Technical problems and low digital abilities
Unstable internet connection, power cuts, lack of adequate technology, and low knowledge and skills to use virtual learning environments and technologies associated with online learning among academics and students
1.2.4. Discrimination
Disadvantage for those without digital skills, disadvantage for those without technological equipment, and disadvantage for those who are less assertive.
In the context of disadvantage of online learning, the Technical problems and low digital abilities point draws attention to user’s skills, Although the educational institution organized classes shifted from tradition to remote for the use of online learning platforms, students struggled with unstable internet connection, power cuts, a lack of adequate technology, screen blocking, etc, which required more extensive knowledge, experience , and ability to improvise to find innovative solutions.
The last point of the disadvantage of remote learning refers to discrimination. Remote learning seems to have disadvantages those with fewer financial resources (who cannot purchase high-performance electronic devices or pat for a high-speed internet) and those with specific personal characteristics.
Therefore, there is a need to systematically study students’ perceptions of online leaning during pandemic to understand its impact on their academic psychological, and social experiences.
Research problem
When pandemic spread over the Nepal, schools, colleges and universities had to quickly move from classrooms teaching to remote classes. Many students and teachers were not ready for this change. Students faced problems like poor internet access, lack of devices, and less interest in remote classes. It is important to study how students felt about this sudden change in the teaching method.
Purpose of study
The main purpose of this study is to find out what students think about remote classes during pandemics. It will also try to understand what problems and benefits they had and how remote learning affected their studies and helps to prepare for the future of remote learning.
Significance of the study
This research is important because it will help schools, colleges and universities to understand students’ problems during online learning. It can help improve remote classes in the future and make sure students get better support or education if something like the pandemic happens again.
Reference for support
Students' Perceptions of Online Learning during COVID-19 Pandemic – MDPI COVID-19 and teacher education: a literature review of online teaching and learning practices