STUDENTS’ BEHAVIOR AND ISSUES IN ONLINE EDUCATION: EXPERIENCES WITHIN A NEWLY ESTABLISHED UNIVERSITY

Abstract

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) forced the stay-home-policy in all the affected countries and all the universities were closed. This led to the transition from the traditional mode of learning to the online mode and it came with many challenges faced by students, teachers, and educational institutes. This study sought to explore the students’ behavior and issues faced by them in online classes. Qualitative research approach was adopted, six students from six different departments of the University of Okara, Pakistan were selected as a sample, and semi-structured interviews were conducted. After the data analysis procedures, different themes emerged related to the behavioral issues of the students. These were a lack of motivation and interest in the study and an informal attitude during the class. The other issues included health issues, family issues, domestic responsibilities, and level of student-teacher and student-students interaction. Since it is unknown when the COVID-19 will fully end, and there will be no more waves of coronavirus, the online mode of education will stay functional and  this study helps create strategies to eliminate the issues faced by students during online studies