Higher Education Students Experience of Distance Learning During COVID-19

Proceedings of The 4th International Conference on Innovative Research in Education

Year: 2022

DOI:

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Higher Education Students Experience of Distance Learning During COVID-19

Dr. Olga Samsonova

ABSTRACT: 

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, all schools, colleges, and universities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were closed and transferred into distance learning. This research aims to find students’ readiness, perceptions, and feelings towards distance learning during the pandemic lockdown. The study participants are eighteen female undergraduate students at an Abu Dhabi federal college enrolled in an Education Summer 2020 course. It utilizes a mixedmethod approach by examining students’ reflective journals and their responses to the questionnaires consisting of qualitative and quantitative questions. Multiple categories emerge from the study: Advantages and Disadvantages of Distance Learning, Assessment Descriptions, Blackboard Learn (BBL) Setup, Communication with the Instructor, Collaborate Ultra, Nearpod, Padlet, Classroom Discussions, and Group Work. The study’s significant findings confirm that the educational institution was ready, and students were prepared for distance learning. Future research on distance learning and findings implementation are discussed in the study.

keywords: Advantages and Disadvantages of Distance Learning, Assessment Descriptions, Blackboard Learn, Distance Learning.