ERIC Number: EJ1373315
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1443-1475
EISSN: EISSN-2202-493X
Experiences of Online Learning and Teaching during the Second Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study of In-Service Teachers at the Fiji National University
Fereal Ibrahim; Sangeeta Nath; Sofia Shireen Ali; Naqsheema Shareen Ali
International Education Journal: Comparative Perspectives, v21 n2 p68-84 2022
The current study investigated the experiences of in-service teachers' at Fiji National University (FNU) during the second phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. The research aimed to contribute to the evidence base of factors affecting the effectiveness of online learning for in-service teacher education in Fiji and identify strategies for improving student experiences in Fiji and similar contexts. The study involved an online questionnaire administered to 97 in-service teachers at FNU and a follow-up one-on-one interview with six questionnaire participants. The paper is structured into three sections: outlining the literature, context and methods used to gather the data; presentation of the results about online learning experiences of inservice teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic; discussion of the challenges faced by the in-service teachers in adapting to the online learning process during the COVID-19 pandemic. The main findings indicate that the FNU in-service teachers faced challenges in transitioning from face-to-face to online instruction, but, for at least some, the transition also brought benefits. The four main challenges included poor connectivity issues, unavailability of devices, inadequate technological skills and the demands of multiple roles. The benefits of online learning comprised improving students' technical skills, upskilling higher education staff and systems, staying connected during tough times, saving money and time, flexibility and convenience. The study reveals that adaptation should focus on improving the courses and accommodating the digital gap among in-service teachers by providing mobile-friendly, synchronous and asynchronous activities.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, College Faculty, COVID-19, Pandemics, Instructional Effectiveness, Teaching Methods, Online Courses, Inservice Teacher Education, Learning Experience, Barriers, Educational Change, Teacher Attitudes, Learning Processes, Universities, Educational Benefits, Internet, Access to Education, Access to Computers, Technological Literacy, Pedagogical Content Knowledge, Teacher Role, Time Management, Cost Effectiveness, Learning Activities, Telecommunications, Handheld Devices
Oceania Comparative and International Education Society. Wellington, New Zealand. Web site: https://openjournals.library.sydney.edu.au/index.php/IEJ/index
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Fiji
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A