Accelerating the Move Towards Online Learning Through Cloud Platforms in Higher Education Sectors Using Smart Devices during COVID-19

Abstract

Education is essential for the progress of humankind. The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and critically. Education policies are entering into a new pathway. Due to climatic and geographical conditions in many areas of the world, it is challenging to establish classes. Many students feel difficulties in leaving their motherland for further education due to the limited economy. Learning using technological components like smart devices is continually growing. Several education institutions provide services through the web using cloud-based technology to ease the students and cultivate their education. The employment of smart devices has a great perspective on teaching and learning. During COVID-19, the cloud platform helps students and faculties learn and even stay in their residential areas. This paper aims to outline: attitude and opinion of smart devices used by higher education students and their self-efficacy in participating in online classes. This teaching strategy makes a significant contribution to digital pedagogy. It includes approximately 360 respondents. The results revealed that students' perceptions of device usage, connectivity, and time duration had a statistically significant effect on cloud-based online learning, and self-efficacy depicts a positive impact on their online classes. Thus smart devices play a vital role in extending learning out of the classroom anywhere, anytime.