Psychology Student Reactions and Perceptions on the Effectiveness of Online Teaching and Learning at Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences in Mutare, Zimbabwe
African Journal of Sociological and Psychological Studies
; 2(1):87-87–105, 2022.
Article
in English
| ProQuest Central | ID: covidwho-1912667
ABSTRACT
The present study emphasizes the reactions and perceptions of the effectiveness of online teaching and learning during COVID-19. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the education system was completely shut and this resulted in sudden migration to online teaching and learning. Hence, the present study provides an insight into the reactions of university students on the adoption of online teaching and learning and their views on its effectiveness. The interpretive phenomenological design was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and fifteen (15) students participated. The following themes were derived from the data, distance learning, web-based e-learning platforms, inaccessibility, acceptance, not compatible, flexibility, loneliness and affordability. The results revealed that online teaching and learning was understood as distant learning via the internet. The sudden shift from in-person learning to online teaching and learning resulted in reactions like doubt, scepticism, worry, fear, distress, anxiety, sympathy, loneliness, disconnectedness, happiness, excitement, and relief. There was scepticism, uncertainty, and doubt over the success of online teaching and learning. Thus students feared the loss of an academic year. However, there was excitement and relief that learning was going to continue. Feelings of worry, distress, and anxiety prevailed among the students because they are accustomed to in-person learning. Online teaching and learning has been adopted and accepted as a new normal which enforces self-learning and adaptive learning. Furthermore, it has proved to be effective because learning was going on amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a flexible method with multiple learning platforms. However, online teaching and learning does not cater for all students and is not fully optimized because of a deficiency in computer skills. The blended concept of learning, training in online teaching and learning, government subsidy on computer accessories, and improving connectivity were recommended to enhance online teaching and learning.
Sociology; Psychological reactions; COVID-19; In-person Learning; Online teaching and Learning (OTL); Effectiveness; Internet; Teaching; Perceptions; College students; Distance learning; Social networks; Loneliness; Technology; Skepticism; Researchers; Happiness; University students; Managerial skills; Interviews; Computer assisted instruction--CAI; Certainty; Reflexivity; Psychological distress; Pandemics; Confidentiality; Medical research; Online instruction; Data collection; Migration; Qualitative research; Educational systems; Coronaviruses; Responses; Education; Africa; Zimbabwe
Full text:
Available
Collection:
Databases of international organizations
Database:
ProQuest Central
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
Language:
English
Journal:
African Journal of Sociological and Psychological Studies
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS