Online teaching modality in a pandemic time: the opinion from a group of undergraduate physics students

ABSTRACT

The pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 affected educational activities around the world. In this scenario, online teaching was the main strategy adopted by Brazilian universities. The literature presents possibilities and boundaries to physics teaching on distance learning modality. In this context, this article aimed to investigate the opinion from a group of physics undergraduate students to have an overview of challenges for Brazilian universities. This group had the face-to-face classes changed abruptly to online modality. An electronic quiz was conducted to analyse data based on Content Analysis procedures. The group believes in the potential of online teaching during the pandemic time, but agrees that several aspects need to change. The students report that they have faced problems related to technical, pedagogical, and socioeconomic aspects. As consequence of distance learning modality, students have presented symptoms of anxiety, depression, and lack of motivation. The group points out professor training as a focus that might help improve online teaching © Copyright by Sociedade Brasileira de Física. Printed in Brazil