Understanding Student Perceptions of Online Learning in Pakistan:A Qualitative Exploration During COVID-19

Abstract

  A discontinuous transition from traditional classroom instruction to online learning is one of the numerous ways in which the Covid-19 pandemic has affected Pakistan's educational system. As the only viable strategy to combat COVID-19, the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan recommended that colleges transition to online instruction. This study examines how students perceive online learning, specifically in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, in light of the sudden and recent occurrence of this shift. Furthermore, the present investigation examines the contrasting perspectives of male and female students regarding this novel pedagogical approach. A qualitative methodology is employed in this study to accomplish this objective. Methods of data collection include focus group discussions, interviews, and mind mapping. Utilizing the interpretivist paradigm, the data gathered through focus groups and interviews is subsequently analyzed qualitatively. The conclusions derived from the qualitative data are further corroborated through the application of mind map results. Male and female perspectives on online learning differ substantially, according to the study's findings. Male students held a more favorable perception of online learning in comparison to their female counterparts. Nonetheless, every single student shares a number of characteristics. Furthermore, online learning was embraced by the majority of students due to the global pandemic.