Distance Learning: Challenges and Opportunities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Author(s): Shaila Sheelavant
• Paper ID: 1702548
• Page: 272-283
• Published Date: 30-11-2020
• Published In: Iconic Research And Engineering Journals
• Publisher: IRE Journals
• e-ISSN: 2456-8880
• Volume/Issue: Volume 4 Issue 5 November-2020

Abstract

This study contributes to the understanding of distance learning challenges and opportunities faced during the COVID-19 pandemic by analyzing quantitative and qualitative data collected from 500 educators, 1,500 students, and 800 parents in diverse educational institutions, between March 2020 and September 2020, using a mixed-method research design including online surveys, virtual classroom observations, and structured interviews, with statistical analysis showing that 78 percent of students encountered digital access, technological literacy, and learning engagement difficulties, and 65 percent of educators faced obstacles adapting pedagogical strategies in entirely virtual environments with urban schools being more digitally prepared than rural ones (?² = 14.72, p < 0.05), while still 82 percent of students loved online learning for its flexibility, 56 percent indicated that increased screen time, lack of direct peer interaction, and teachers decreasing engagements was a concern, also revealing that students' socio-emotional well-being was impacted by their feelings of isolation with qualitative results from student interviews showing that 41 percent of learners felt socially isolated and emotionally disconnected from teachers, while the parents expressed mixed reactions, as 67 percent recognized that learning at home was convenient, yet reports show that 49 percent said increased parental involvement in home-based learning was a burden, as the educators revealed that virtual assessment, student motivation, and digital fatigue were the obstacles that they face along with the qualitative results from parents in whom 73 percent recognized digital tools offering advantages for personalized learning, asynchronous instructional delivery, and global classroom accessibility,?while further regression analysis shows that students with internet access and previous digital literacy training had drastically high academic performance private learning environment as ? = 0.52, p < 0.01, indicating that students coming from lower services found it problematic to garage issues and ample resources, concluding that yet distance learning is an inspiring educational paradigm, its efficiency relies on equitable technologic affiliation, adaptive pedagogy, and emotional-train systems, therefore demand teaching blended learning models, policies to ensure equitable using the world wide web and comprehensive training on virtuous methodology principals to outcome the learning products coupling up biotechnology in the era of pandemic.

Keywords

Distance Learning, COVID-19 Pandemic, Digital Divide, Online Education Challenges, Virtual Pedagogy, Blended Learning Models

Citations

IRE Journals:
Shaila Sheelavant "Distance Learning: Challenges and Opportunities During the COVID-19 Pandemic" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 4 Issue 5 2020 Page 272-283

IEEE:
Shaila Sheelavant "Distance Learning: Challenges and Opportunities During the COVID-19 Pandemic" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 4(5)