“PANDEMIC AND STUDENTS PERCEPTION ABOUT ONLINE TEACHING & PJAEE, 18(3) (2021)

LEARNING”

“PANDEMIC AND STUDENTS PERCEPTION ABOUT

ONLINE TEACHING & LEARNING”

Prof. Sachin S. Panchabhai

Assistant Professor,
Dr. Ambedkar Institute of Management Studies & Research, Nagpur

Prof. Sachin S. Panchabhai : Pandemic and Students Perception about Online Teaching
& Learning.--Palarch’s Journal of Archaeology Of Egypt/Egyptology 18(3). ISSN 1567-
214x

ABSTRACT:
Online Learning or E – Learning become the very important aspect of today’s education
system, specifically after the pandemic. Most of the educational institutes were forced to conduct
online lectures to complete the educational syllabus, prescribed by the authorities. Various
opinions were expressed about online learning by various people. However the to ascertain the
students perspective about the online learning, this particular study is undertaken. This research
paper tries to study the various aspects about online learning.This research paper also tries to
study the students’ perception about the online learning. The pandemic forced many educational
and other institutes to use online learning for all categories of students’.
Keywords: E- Learning, Online Learning, Pandemic, Work from home, Lockdown, Online Medium
of transactions

INTRODUCTION:
The current pandemic is an unprecedented situation for all of us. The experience was very
unique in nature. The unavailability of proper information, knowledge, fears in the society are
prominently observed. The severe cautions to be observed and numerous other restrictions changed
the entire life of almost all of us. The various measures taken by Government initially the Union
Government followed by the State Government to contain the spread of the infection. These all
restrictions resulted in using online medium for numerous transactions. The concept, work from
home gain lot of momentum. The online teaching, learning & online corporate training become the
imperative part of day to day life.
o Improvement in internet connectivity due to the low cost of 4G data.
o Growth in Smartphone penetration.
o Online education cost is comparatively small compared to traditional programmes.
o Favourable e – learning government policies such as e-Basta, SWAYAM and Digital India
o Rising demand among working professionals due to the flexibility of time.
The various private players also entered in this business of online teaching and learning
commonly known as e – learning. The impact of pandemic resulted in continuous growth of
various such platforms like,

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o BYJU'S.
o Vedantu.
o UpGrad.
o TestBook.
o Toppr.
o Unacademy.
o Doubtnut.
The online teaching & learning becomes the routine exercise for schools & colleges. The
online teaching & learning through various platforms was available to the institutions as well as for
the students. Those students who have earlier attended physical classroom that is face to face
teaching and learning, suddenly forced to attend the lectures through online mode. Few students
definitely found some difficulties in online lectures. Though the various platforms used are having
different features to make the feel of classroom learning & teaching. In spite of these specific
features all the students are not comfortable with online teaching & learning adopted by almost all
the educational institutions. the level of understanding, less interaction because of the limited
applications of online medium as compare to physical classroom teaching & learning. Then there
are several limitations in the evaluation and assignments. The pattern followed was mostly
through MCQ’s could not suffice the purpose. The students were not serious enough in
examinations and assignment. These aspects and many other aspects are explored in this paper.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE:
Online Teaching and Learning or E-Learning is possible only because of high penetration
of internet and modern technology.
Developments in internet and related technologies facilitated the online education,
specifically distance learning. Not only personal computer, laptop, but also the handy mobile
phone can be used for online teaching & learning. The most important feature is any time and
everywhere the facility can be used.
R.Radha & Others (2020) “E-learning has become the mandatory component of all
educational institutions like schools, colleges, and universities in and around the world due to the
pandemic crisis.
E-learning seems to be the forthcoming trend. It has been extending widespread. The
online method of learning is best suited for everyone. Depending on their availability and comfort,
many people choose to learn at a convenient time. This enables the learner to access updated
content whenever they want it. Due to the wide set of benefits, it gives to students. The findings of
the study reflect the impact of E-learning, students’ interest in using E-learning resources, and their
performance. In conclusion, this study showed that
E-learning has become quite popular among the students across the world particularly, the
lockdown period due to the pandemic.” 4
Dr. Pravat Kumar Jena (2000) “Online Learning is the most common method of distance
learning today. During the lockdown period for Covid-19, online learning is the best platform to
keep learners/educators engaged and safe by maintaining social distancing. Govt. of India has
initiated different online learning platforms to continue educational activities during lockdown
period which are also been recognised by UNESCO and World Bank.” 5
UNESCO, “Most governments around the world have temporarily closed educational
institutions in an attempt to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
These nationwide closures are impacting hundreds of millions of students. Several other
countries have implemented localized closures impacting millions of additional learners.
UNESCO is supporting countries in their efforts to mitigate the immediate impact of
school closures, particularly for more vulnerable and disadvantaged communities, and to facilitate
the continuity of education for all through remote learning.” 6

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Dr. Devendra Bhongade, Dr. Yogesh M. Sarode “In this era of information technology, the
emergence of globalization of knowledge economy has resulted in digital online learning in higher
education system. E-learning could have potentially major effects on the way higher education is
designed, implemented and delivered. Higher education institutions must determine the most
suitable environments and courses for e-learning delivery. Though Indians have been traditionally
inclined towards conventional classroom based academic programs, the Government of India has
been actively supporting the e-learning drive to overcome the various challenges and to strengthen
accessibility.” 7

OBJECTIVES:
o To study the online teaching and learning as an alternative for classroom teaching and
learning during pandemic.
o To study the perception of students about online teaching and learning.
o to study the perception of faculties about online teaching and learning.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:
The study is based on primary as well as secondary data. The primary data collected from
semester III students of MBA colleges. The primary data collected from total 50 students as
respondents. At the same time the primary data is also collected from the few faculties of MBA.
The students and faculties both are well conversant with the physical face to face classroom
lectures prior to pandemic and also attended and engaged the online teaching and learning sessions
during pandemic and still continuing.
The sampling technique used is convenience sampling.
The secondary data collected from various websites, journals, newspapers, etc.

ANALYSIS & DISCUSSION:

The primary data is collected from 50 students of MBA Semester III. The questions are
summarized as below and the responses are tabulated as under:

Sr. Questions Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly

No. Disagree Agree
1 Better than Classroom Learning 38 4 4 4 0
2 Clear Understanding - Theoretical 4 8 0 2 36
3 Clear Understanding - Practical 16 2 6 4 22
4 Time saving 0 4 10 6 30
5 Difficult to Focus or Concentrate 20 2 4 4 20
6 Difficult for Doubt Clarification 12 4 10 6 18
7 Problems of Technical Issues 12 0 2 0 36
8 Expensive 40 2 2 2 4
9 Pace of Teaching (OK) 10 0 4 2 34
10 Easy to complete Assignments 18 0 4 0 28

Data is collected from third semester students of MBA. These students have attended the
classroom lectures for around one and half semester before the lockdown was imposed. Then these
students also attended online lectures for about one and half semester that is partly second semester
& third semester full. The collected data is tabulated and the tabulated data is analysed using pie
diagram:

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Question Number: 1
Online Learning - Better than Classroom Learning
0
8%
8% Strongly Disagree %

8% Disagree %
Neutral %
Agree %
76% Strongly Agree %

Finding: - 76% of the respondents strongly disagree with online learning is better than classroom
learning. Hence we can infer that classroom learning is more preferred by the respondent group.
Question Number: 2
Online Learning - Clear Understanding - Theoretical

8%
Strongly Disagree
16% Disagree
4% Neutral
Agree
72%
Strongly Agree

Finding: - 72% of the respondents strongly agree with online learning facilitate clear
understanding of theoretical aspects. Hence we can infer that online teaching and learning helps the
respondent group in understanding theoretical aspects.

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Question Number: 3
Online Learning - Clear Understanding - Practical

Strongly Disagree
32% Disagree
44%
Neutral
Agree
4%
12% Strongly Agree
8%

Finding: - 44% of the respondents strongly agree that online learning facilitate clear
understanding of practical / numerical aspects. At the same time a considerable percentage of the
respondent that is 32 % strongly disagree that online learning facilitate clear understanding of
practical / numerical aspects. Therefore we can infer that online teaching and learning may not be
able to clearly understand the practical / numerical aspects, as compare to the understanding of
theoretical aspects.

Question Number: 4
Online Learning - Time saving
0
8% Strongly Disagree

20% Disagree
Neutral
60% 12% Agree
Strongly Agree

Finding: - 60% of the respondents strongly agree that online teaching and learning saves
time. Therefore we can infer that online teaching and learning helps the respondent group to save
the time.

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Question Number: 5
Online Learning - Difficult to Focus or Concentrate

Strongly Disagree

40% 40% Disagree

Neutral
Agree
8% 8% 4% Strongly Agree

Finding: - The questions pertaining on whether online teaching and learning causes some
difficulty in concentrating or focussing on the learning, 40% of the respondents strongly agree as
well as 40% of the respondents strongly disagree.

Question Number: 6
Online Learning - Difficult for Doubt Clarification

Strongly Disagree
24%
36% Disagree
Neutral
8%
Agree
12% 20% Strongly Agree

Finding: - 36% of the respondents strongly agree that online teaching and learning poses
few difficulties in doubt clarification. At the same time 24% of the respondents strongly disagree
that online teaching and learning poses any difficulties in doubt clarification. Hence we can infer
that online teaching and learning causes few difficulties in clarification of doubts.

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Question Number: 7
Online Learning - Problems of Technical Issues

Strongly Disagree
24% Disagree
0
4% 0 Neutral
72% Agree
Strongly Agree

Finding: - 72% of the respondents strongly agree that during online teaching and learning
they have faced technical problems. Hence we can infer that during online teaching and learning
technical issues need to be sorted.

Question Number: 8
Online Learning - Expensive

4% 8% Strongly Disagree
4%
4% Disagree
Neutral

80% Agree
Strongly Agree

Finding: - 80% of the respondents strongly disagree that online teaching and learning is
expensive as compare to physical classroom teaching and learning. A small that is 8% of the
respondents strongly agree that online teaching and learning is expensive as compare to physical
classroom teaching and learning.

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Question Number: 9
Online Learning - Pace of Teaching (OK)

Strongly Disagree
20%
0 Disagree
8% Neutral
68% 4% Agree
Strongly Agree

Finding: - 68 % of the respondents strongly agree that during online teaching and learning the
speed or pace of teaching that is completing the syllabus is all right.

Question Number: 10
Online Learning - Easy to complete Assignments

Strongly Disagree
36% Disagree
Neutral
56% Agree
8% Strongly Agree
0
0

Finding: - 56 % of the respondents strongly agree that in online teaching and learning the
assignment completion is comparatively easy as compare to physical classroom assignments. At
the same time 36 % of the respondents strongly disagree that in online teaching and learning the
assignment completion is comparatively easy as compare to physical classroom assignments.
o Teachers’ Perspective: - The primary data is collected from the faculties of MBA through
interview, and the secondary data is also collected on the teachers’ perspectives on online
teaching and learning.
o The teachers who were interviewed and the collected secondary data revels that, most of the
teachers initially faced lot of problems of technical nature in online teaching and learning.
Some teachers were very much comfortable with the online teaching and learning as far as
the technical nature is concerned. Teachers also reported that the online teaching and
learning is not very satisfying when compared with physical face to face classroom lectures.
The online teaching and learning also lacks in constructive interaction, which is very much
essential for effective teaching and learning. The teachers also opined that the assignment
and evaluation in the online teaching and learning is not beneficial for the students. Some
teachers also reported lack of infrastructure to conduct the online teaching and learning. The
teachers are also of the view that some students doesn’t focus and are not attentive in the
online teaching and learning lectures. The teachers also reported that they have changed a lot
in their delivery style to make online teaching and learning more encouraging and effective.

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The online teaching and learning lectures were mostly conducted on Zoom and Google
classroom.
o Increase in Internet Penetration.
o Tremendous growth in the internet and its utility in communication and engaging
educational lectures online has specifically benefitted to both educational institutions
as well as the students at large.
o Comparatively economic.
o Conducting online classes in an educational institute is comparatively economical /
cheaper, specifically for the students.
o Rural Students.
o Urban Students.
o E- Learning – extension of distance learning.
o Reduced face to face interaction between students & teachers.
o Schools, colleges all started online teaching
o Various platforms
o Easy availability of Numbers of tools for online teaching and learning such as PC, Laptop,
Mobile, etc.
o Slow learners found it very difficult to grasp the online teaching and learning process and to
understand the content that effectively.
o Health Issues, increase in screen time, etc.
o Connectivity Issues – Rural Population – Unavailability of stable Internet connectivity.
o Increasing in internet use & subsequently charges, some students complained about the
increased cost on data packages.
o Difficulty in problem solving as lack of physical classroom teaching and learning, some
students problems, queries are unanswered.
o Difficult to address highly numerical & technical subjects.
o E – Learning has gain lot of importance specifically during pandemic. Blended learning is
likely to occupy the place of regular classroom learning, in time to come. Online learning has
advantages as well as disadvantages. The important advantage is, that it saves time and can
be attended from any place. Online learning is regarded as safe during the pandemic. It
allows the social distancing. It also provides continuity in education specifically during the
lockdown situation.
o The respondents are of the opinions as .There may be some disadvantages of online learning,
however online teaching and learning is always better than discontinuity in education. In
Indian scenario the classroom learning is preferred over online learning, but in the recent
time, many students are also become conversant with online teaching and learning. As
considerably large percentage of students have opined in favour of classroom learning better
than online learning, in online learning theoretical portions can be clearly understood as
compare to practical or numerical portions. In online teaching and learning, it become little
difficult to focus on as most of the students were attending from their home. In online
teaching and learning it is difficult to clarify the doubts as the interaction is not face to face.
Many respondents replied that they have faced lot many technical issues while attending
online teaching and learning. It is economical; they are comfortable with the pace of teaching
and also in submission of assignment to some extent.
o The teachers / faculties responded that most of them initially faced lot many technical
problems in online teaching and learning. Most of the teachers are also of the view that they
didn’t derive the pleasure in online teaching and learning. Most of the teachers also of the
view that students are not that much attentive during online lectures and online teaching and
learning cannot ensure constructive interaction with the students.

CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS:

On the analysis of collected data, primary as well as secondary we can conclude that in the
present situation online teaching and learning is one of the option for continuity in teaching and
learning specifically for school and colleges. However the students are not fully satisfied with the

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online learning and teaching. As there are several problems the students’ faced such as technical
issues, doubt clarification, difficulty in understanding practical subjects, etc. At the same time the
students are somewhat satisfied with time saving nature of online teaching and learning. The
students also opined that the online teaching and learning saves time and it is comparatively
economical also. This particular phase of online teaching and learning can be regarded as transition
from classroom teaching and learning to online teaching and learning. No doubt online teaching
and learning did have some limitations, but it seems that the future of online teaching and learning
is promising. There are tremendous growth potentials to online teaching and learning. As more and
more online teaching learning platforms are making their platforms more attractive and quite
similar to classroom teaching and learning, we can definitely conclude that the scope of growth of
online teaching and learning is very vast. As more and more advancement and technical up
gradation is likely to come in online teaching and learning, it may prove as one of the effective
alternative for classroom teaching and learning in time to come. Presently though the students have
opined in favour of classroom teaching and learning. More improvements in online teaching and
learning will make online teaching and learning more useful and beneficial specifically in higher
education. These online teaching and learning can be more effectively cater the rural population
and to the people at remote places. This can be used for many more purposes that traditional school
and college education.
Developments in internet and related technologies facilitated the online education,
specifically distance learning. Not only personal computer, laptop, but also the handy mobile
phone can be used for online teaching & learning. The most important feature is any time and
everywhere the facility can be used.

REFERENCES:
1. Remote Learning Initiatives across India - Department of School Education & Literacy
Ministry of Human Resource Development Government of India
https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/India_Report_Digital_Education
_0.pdf
2. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-online-education-industry-in-india-and-the-
impact-of-covid-19-301192732.html
3. R.Radha, K.Mahalakshmi, Dr.V.Sathish Kumar, Dr.AR.Saravanakumar (2020), E-Learning
during Lockdown of Covid-19 Pandemic: A Global Perspective International Journal of
Control and Automation Vol. 13, No. 4, (2020), pp. 1088-1099.
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82-92.
5. https://en.unesco.org/covid19/educationresponse
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Higher Education: Trends And Issues, International Journal Of Current Engineering and
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_0.pdf
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12. www.business-standard.com › Companies › Start-ups › Start-up Corner

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13. Jaiswal, V. (2013). Current Status of e-learning in Indian higher education: A case study of
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