Abstract:

Educational sector has suffered massive setbacks following the onset of Covid-19 pandemic.  Educational institutions have been closed for varying periods of time and switched to online mode of learning. This study aimed at exploring the current practices, experiences, attitudes and perceptions of online learning and teaching among college students using a comprehensive online survey.   Of the 617 students who participated in the survey 84% were females. Most (69.7%) of them belonged to the age category 20 to 30. 69.7% were from a rural background. 65.8% were aware of online teaching methods before the pandemic but only 30.8% had used it before. 62.7% had experience of using smartphones for a period of 1 to 5 years.  The online platform used by around half the participants was Google meet. 561 (90.9%) used smartphones to attend classes. Majority (259, 42%) of participants are able to concentrate only for about 30 minutes at a stretch while attending online classes.  57.3% students reported online learning methods easy or very easy to use and 97.4% students found the sessions useful in general. Majority of the participants (450, 73%) are happy with the overall experience of online learning. Most of the students are in agreement that internet-based meetings are useful, easy to use and provide effective learning environment. Majority also reported that when compared to face-to-face meetings, online meetings are less effective and there is less interaction in online teaching. 129 (33.3%) are definite they would use internet based learning and related facilities regularly in the future.   To the best of our knowledge this is one of the first comprehensive studies which closely looked at the experience of college students in attending online classes. Having known the benefits of online learning, it is highly likely this approach continues to play a significant role in the future and a hybrid learning method may be the way forward. These findings assume great importance on the back of how prepared and ready are learners to accept this new form of education. 

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