Challenges of Online Learning during the First Wave of Covid-19 Pandemic: Students’ Perspective
Апстракт
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant disruptions in young people’s everyday functioning. One of the most detrimental effects on their life satisfaction and wellbeing has been attributed to the sudden and unexpected closure of academic institutions. In previous research, the shift to home-based e-learning has been linked to dissatisfaction with the educational process, the inability to spend time with peers, and the occurrence of stressrelated symptoms and learning difficulties. This study explores the students’ perspectives on online learning in Serbia during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on their well-being. The qualitative research methodology was applied in the form of in-depth semi-structured interviews. The sample included 15 participants (6 male), both university and final-year high-school students, aged 18-26. Their answers were transcribed and thematically analyzed, generating five central themes: 1) inadequate organization of the educati...on process, 2) lack of resources, 3) difficulties with self organization, 4) loss of live contact with peers, and 5) uncertainties regarding the continuation of the studies. All students recognized online learning as a serious challenge, resulting in elevated stress levels. They viewed the education process as inadequately adapted to the new circumstances, while practical skills instruction (e.g., art, maths) arose as a particular issue. Moreover, some participants faced additional difficulties, such as the lack of technical means (e.g., internet connection) or personal space for studying. Due to the lack of information from academic institutions and the loss of an external structure, students found learning more difficult, often dealing with confusion, low motivation, poor focus, and procrastination. Home-based education led to dissatisfaction with social life, which was limited to online contacts. Finally, the uncertainties regarding the future organization of their studies increased anxiety levels, recurrently enhancing the mentioned challenges. The findings suggest that both high-school and university students included in this study perceived online learning during the first wave of the pandemic as stressful and insufficiently oriented towards their needs, thus negatively affecting their wellbeing. Subsequently, several practical guidelines for the organization of online learning are offered, which could prove beneficial for academic institutions and students alike.
Кључне речи:
online learning / COVID-19 / students / qualitative research / thematic analysisИзвор:
Book of Abstracts of the 27th Scientific Conference Empirical Studies in Psychology, 2021, 68-Издавач:
- Belgrade: Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade
- Belgrade: Laboratory for Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade
Финансирање / пројекти:
- Идентификација, мерење и развој когнитивних и емоционалних компетенција важних друштву оријентисаном на европске интеграције (RS-MESTD-Basic Research (BR or ON)-179018)
Напомена:
- M 34
Институција/група
Psihologija / PsychologyTY - CONF AU - Ignjatović, Natalija AU - Ivanov, Ana AU - Vuletić, Teodora AU - Stanković, Biljana PY - 2021 UR - http://reff.f.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/4349 AB - The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant disruptions in young people’s everyday functioning. One of the most detrimental effects on their life satisfaction and wellbeing has been attributed to the sudden and unexpected closure of academic institutions. In previous research, the shift to home-based e-learning has been linked to dissatisfaction with the educational process, the inability to spend time with peers, and the occurrence of stressrelated symptoms and learning difficulties. This study explores the students’ perspectives on online learning in Serbia during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on their well-being. The qualitative research methodology was applied in the form of in-depth semi-structured interviews. The sample included 15 participants (6 male), both university and final-year high-school students, aged 18-26. Their answers were transcribed and thematically analyzed, generating five central themes: 1) inadequate organization of the education process, 2) lack of resources, 3) difficulties with self organization, 4) loss of live contact with peers, and 5) uncertainties regarding the continuation of the studies. All students recognized online learning as a serious challenge, resulting in elevated stress levels. They viewed the education process as inadequately adapted to the new circumstances, while practical skills instruction (e.g., art, maths) arose as a particular issue. Moreover, some participants faced additional difficulties, such as the lack of technical means (e.g., internet connection) or personal space for studying. Due to the lack of information from academic institutions and the loss of an external structure, students found learning more difficult, often dealing with confusion, low motivation, poor focus, and procrastination. Home-based education led to dissatisfaction with social life, which was limited to online contacts. Finally, the uncertainties regarding the future organization of their studies increased anxiety levels, recurrently enhancing the mentioned challenges. The findings suggest that both high-school and university students included in this study perceived online learning during the first wave of the pandemic as stressful and insufficiently oriented towards their needs, thus negatively affecting their wellbeing. Subsequently, several practical guidelines for the organization of online learning are offered, which could prove beneficial for academic institutions and students alike. PB - Belgrade: Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade PB - Belgrade: Laboratory for Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade C3 - Book of Abstracts of the 27th Scientific Conference Empirical Studies in Psychology T1 - Challenges of Online Learning during the First Wave of Covid-19 Pandemic: Students’ Perspective SP - 68 UR - https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_reff_4349 ER -
@conference{ author = "Ignjatović, Natalija and Ivanov, Ana and Vuletić, Teodora and Stanković, Biljana", year = "2021", abstract = "The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant disruptions in young people’s everyday functioning. One of the most detrimental effects on their life satisfaction and wellbeing has been attributed to the sudden and unexpected closure of academic institutions. In previous research, the shift to home-based e-learning has been linked to dissatisfaction with the educational process, the inability to spend time with peers, and the occurrence of stressrelated symptoms and learning difficulties. This study explores the students’ perspectives on online learning in Serbia during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on their well-being. The qualitative research methodology was applied in the form of in-depth semi-structured interviews. The sample included 15 participants (6 male), both university and final-year high-school students, aged 18-26. Their answers were transcribed and thematically analyzed, generating five central themes: 1) inadequate organization of the education process, 2) lack of resources, 3) difficulties with self organization, 4) loss of live contact with peers, and 5) uncertainties regarding the continuation of the studies. All students recognized online learning as a serious challenge, resulting in elevated stress levels. They viewed the education process as inadequately adapted to the new circumstances, while practical skills instruction (e.g., art, maths) arose as a particular issue. Moreover, some participants faced additional difficulties, such as the lack of technical means (e.g., internet connection) or personal space for studying. Due to the lack of information from academic institutions and the loss of an external structure, students found learning more difficult, often dealing with confusion, low motivation, poor focus, and procrastination. Home-based education led to dissatisfaction with social life, which was limited to online contacts. Finally, the uncertainties regarding the future organization of their studies increased anxiety levels, recurrently enhancing the mentioned challenges. The findings suggest that both high-school and university students included in this study perceived online learning during the first wave of the pandemic as stressful and insufficiently oriented towards their needs, thus negatively affecting their wellbeing. Subsequently, several practical guidelines for the organization of online learning are offered, which could prove beneficial for academic institutions and students alike.", publisher = "Belgrade: Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade: Laboratory for Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade", journal = "Book of Abstracts of the 27th Scientific Conference Empirical Studies in Psychology", title = "Challenges of Online Learning during the First Wave of Covid-19 Pandemic: Students’ Perspective", pages = "68", url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_reff_4349" }
Ignjatović, N., Ivanov, A., Vuletić, T.,& Stanković, B.. (2021). Challenges of Online Learning during the First Wave of Covid-19 Pandemic: Students’ Perspective. in Book of Abstracts of the 27th Scientific Conference Empirical Studies in Psychology Belgrade: Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade., 68. https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_reff_4349
Ignjatović N, Ivanov A, Vuletić T, Stanković B. Challenges of Online Learning during the First Wave of Covid-19 Pandemic: Students’ Perspective. in Book of Abstracts of the 27th Scientific Conference Empirical Studies in Psychology. 2021;:68. https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_reff_4349 .
Ignjatović, Natalija, Ivanov, Ana, Vuletić, Teodora, Stanković, Biljana, "Challenges of Online Learning during the First Wave of Covid-19 Pandemic: Students’ Perspective" in Book of Abstracts of the 27th Scientific Conference Empirical Studies in Psychology (2021):68, https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_reff_4349 .