Students’ Experiences of E-learning Practices During COVID-19: A Qualitative Study

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v17i14.30393

Keywords:

E-learning, experience, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), COVID-19, University Students, Bangladesh

Abstract


COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted schooling globally. Affecting millions of students, the conventional face-to-face (F2F) education system has been replaced by e-learning overnight. As the advantages, disadvantages, and technical challenges of this abrupt transformation were already well-documented, this study aimed to intensely scrutinize university students' experiences of e-learning practices in this new normal situation. Methods: Adopting the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), a smaller sample of respondents (N=25) was observed to gain deeper insights using semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed and interpreted through thematic analysis. Findings revealed that most of the students have had unfavorable experiences with e-learning. The majority of students feel that e-learning has ruined their social relationships by isolating them from their peers and instructors. A significant number of students were observed to be anxious about their future due to unstable financial status, poor learning outcomes, and unfair evaluation processes. Moreover, poor self-esteem, anxiety, and depressive symptoms have been observed among a significant portion of the students. The overall findings of this study are meant to assist stakeholders in taking the necessary steps to address the aforementioned issues and ensure an improved learning experience, particularly in an e-learning environment.

Author Biographies

Md Fouad Hossain Sarker, Associate Professor, Department of Development Studies, Daffodil International University

Md Fouad Hossain Sarker is an Associate Professor in the Department of Development Studies, under the Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, at Daffodil International University (DIU), Bangladesh. He has received the "Teaching Practices Excellence Award (Chairman’s Award) in 2020 and the Vice Chancellor’s Award in 2016" for innovation in teaching and learning at DIU. His research interests focus on educational development, mentoring & counseling, corporate social responsibility, migration, and development. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6884-837X

Maruf Ahmed Tamal , Research Fellow, Division of Research, Daffodil International University

Maruf Ahmed Tamal is currently working as a Research Fellow in the Division of Research at Daffodil International University (DIU), one of the top leading digital universities in Bangladesh. He is actively involved in research projects and research collaborations with various institutions (national and international) and has 5 publications listed in SCOPUS, DBLP, IET Inspec, and other research databases. His primary area of expertise is machine learning and data mining-based knowledge discovery. He also pursues interests in ICT-based pedagogy, e-learning, and mathematics anxiety. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8998-5739

Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan, Professor, Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka

Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan is a Professor and former Chairman at the Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka; Pro-Vice Chancellor, Independent University of Bangladesh (IUB); Senior Academic Adviser- National Defence College (NDC); Senior Academic Adviser-BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD, BRAC University); Chairman, Bangladesh Tropical Forest Conservation (Arannayak) Foundation; and Executive Director of the Centre for Resources and Development Research. His career reflects a rich blend of academic and practicing development management experiences gained in Bangladesh, Thailand, and the UK. Besides serving as Bangladesh Country Representative of IUCN – the International Union for Conservation of Nature, some of his other former positions include: Senior Programme Coordinator, UNDP-Bangladesh; Forest and Natural Resource Management Specialist (RETA 5900), Asian Development Bank (ADB), South Asian Fellow, Queen Elizabeth House, Oxford; Distinguished Visiting Researcher, The American University in Cairo; Distinguished Visiting Professor, Asian University for Women (AUW). Professor Khan pursued higher education at the University of Wales, University of Oxford, and Asian Institute of Technology, and contributed some 170 research articles to refereed journals.  Climate change adaptation, community forestry, natural resource management, public policy discourse, and social development are all areas in which he has made significant contributions. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4672-304X.

Dr. Md Kabirul Islam, Professor, Department of Multimedia and Creative Technology, Daffodil International University

Dr. Md Kabirul Islam is a Professor of Multimedia and Creative Technology at Daffodil International University (DIU), Bangladesh. At present, he is performing his responsibility as the Director of the Division of Research at DIU, which has a greater impact on establishing a research culture in the university and publications in ISI and Scopus. He has contributed greatly to his field, especially in founding and successfully running the Department of Multimedia and Creative Technology and the Division of Research at his current university. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5554-3166

Mohammad Faisal Akber, Senior Lecturer, Department of Development Studies, Daffodil International University

Mohammad Faisal Akber is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Development Studies, under the Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, at Daffodil International University (DIU), Bangladesh. He received his B.S.S. (Hon’s), M.S.S., and M.Phil degrees in the Department of Political Science at the University of Dhaka. His research interests focus on educational development, political parties, good governance, and sustainable development issues. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5772-0760

Samiha Khan, Lecturer, Department of Development Studies, Daffodil International University

Samiha Khan is a Lecturer in the Department of Development Studies at Daffodil International University, Bangladesh. She is also involved with HRDI at DIU in order to promote a greater research culture among young academics at the university. In addition to higher education management, her research interests also include climate change and the gendered impact of climate change. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2669-244X

 
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Published

2022-07-26

How to Cite

Sarker, M. F. H., Tamal , M. A. ., Khan, N. A., Islam, M. K. ., Akber, M. F. ., & Khan, S. . (2022). Students’ Experiences of E-learning Practices During COVID-19: A Qualitative Study . International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET), 17(14), pp. 157–171. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v17i14.30393

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 14 (2022)

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Papers

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