ANALYSIS OF ONLINE TEACHING AND LEARNING IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Abstract
The research focused on determining the impact of online teaching and learning in higher education. A case study of Takoradi Sandwich Early Childhood students. The following study objectives were used: To examine the effects of online interaction on distance teaching-learning of Sandwich Early Childhood students in Takoradi, and to identify the challenges of online teaching-learning by Sandwich Early Childhood students in Takoradi.
In recent years, the most significant influence in education has been the growth and acceptance of private for-profit adult distance and online education programs as legitimate institutions for quality learning. Online learning is concerned with a wide variety of technologically-based learning platforms, delivery methods, and the incorporation of educational technology components into the learning environment.
The advent of modern technology has given students of all ages, both young and old, the opportunity to participate in furthering their education in an environment that is diverse, rich in best practices, and progressive enough to allow students to proceed at their own pace. This article will discuss online education, its benefits and drawbacks, online teaching tools, professional development, best practices, and a personal online experience evaluation.
chapter One
Introduction
1.1The Study’s Background
Higher education institutions are increasingly embracing online education, and the number of students enrolled in distance education programs is rapidly increasing in colleges and universities.
Today’s students are immersed in a technological era that includes an array of mobile technology and learning tools such as iPads, computers, iPhones, interactive audio or videoconferencing, webcasts, instructional videos on CD-ROMs or DVDs, and computer-based systems transmitted via the Internet (The National Center for Education Statistics, 2011).
Mobile devices educate students by allowing them to download necessary materials immediately to help fulfill requirements for issues they face daily (Bonk, 2009). Webcams, electronic books, and audio devices for recording lectures for students to use at their leisure are effective tools offered by educational institutions to increase students’ success rate with course requirements.
Electronic books can reduce costs while also ensuring access to the most recent reading materials and a wider range of sources. With the advancement of these devices, instructors now have new and innovative tools to promote teaching and learning for students with a variety of educational needs.
Not only are technological devices required for success in the online environment, but so is the design of the online program, which includes the instructor, curriculum, and student support services, as well as a strong sense of community and connectedness within the program.
At the same time, misconceptions and myths about the difficulty of teaching and learning online, the technologies available to support online instruction, the support and compensation required for high-quality instructors, and the needs of online students make such vision statements and planning documents difficult to create.
Part of the confusion stems from higher education’s exploration of dozens of e-learning technologies (such as electronic books, simulations, text messaging, podcasting, wikis, and blogs), with new ones seemingly emerging every week. These technologies face instructors and administrators at a time of ongoing budget cuts and rethinking.
To compound the problem, bored students are dropping out of online classes while pleading for more rich and engaging online learning experiences. Given the demand for online learning, the abundance of online technologies to incorporate into teaching, the budgetary issues, and the opportunities for innovation, we contend that online learning environments are amid a “perfect e-storm” that connects pedagogy, technology, and learner needs.
Problem identification
The call for E-learning implementation in schools is intended to infuse and inject efficiency and effectiveness into the teaching-learning process. Thus, in a developing country like Ghana, E-learning is currently confronted with material device challenges such as the availability of computers, well-equipped computer laboratories with internet access, videophone systems and teleconferencing devices,
fax and wireless applications, digital library, digital classrooms, multimedia systems, and the problem of multimedia courseware development, among others (Global Information Technology Report, 2010). Other studies have revealed a shortage of trained teachers for E-learning, as well as a lack of facilities, infrastructure, and equipment (Ikemenjima, 2005; Jegede & Owolabi, 2003).
In the developed world, e-learning has already had an impact on the fields of teaching, training, and development. A growing number of higher education courses are now taught online, which is increasing student enrollment (Chang, 2001). Many educational stakeholders believe that online learning will be the future method for their training programs (Barron, 1999).
However, there is insufficient documentation to demonstrate that E-learning is an effective delivery mechanism in terms of the individuals being taught. According to Aroyo and Dicheva (2004), many education system researchers are concerned with moving their research to a coherent space of collaborative intelligence from scattered intelligence.
There have been few studies that look into distance learning students’ perceptions of the impact of e-learning on their academic performance. As a result, the purpose of this research is to look into the impact of online teaching and learning in higher education. A case study of Takoradi Sandwich Early Childhood students
The study’s objective
The study’s goal is to look into the impact of online teaching and learning in higher education. The specific goals are as follows:
To investigate the effect of online teaching and learning on the academic performance of Sandwich Early Childhood students in Takoradi.
To investigate the effects of online interaction on Sandwich Early Childhood students’ distance teaching-learning in Takoradi.
To determine the challenges of online teaching and learning by Sandwich Early Childhood students in Takoradi.
Is there an effect of online teaching and learning on the academic performance of Takoradi Sandwich Early Childhood students?
Is there an effect of online interaction on distance teaching-learning of Takoradi Sandwich Early Childhood students?
Are there any difficulties with online teaching and learning for Sandwich Early Childhood students in Takoradi?
Hypotheses for research
In the null form, the following hypothesis will be tested.
Issuance I
Ho: Online teaching-learning has no significant impact on the academic performance of Sandwich Early Childhood students in Takoradi.
Ho: Online teaching and learning have a significant impact on the academic performance of Sandwich Early Childhood students in Takoradi.
Hypothesis No. 2
Ho: Online interaction has no significant effect on distance teaching-learning of Sandwich Early Childhood students in Takoradi.
Ho: Online interaction has a significant effect on distance teaching-learning of Sandwich Early Childhood students in Takoradi.
Third Hypothesis
Sandwich Early Childhood students in Takoradi face no difficulties with online teaching and learning.
Sandwich Early Childhood students in Takoradi face challenges with online teaching and learning.
The study’s importance
The study will be extremely beneficial to both students and the Ministry of Education. Similarly, the study will provide knowledge and guidelines that policymakers may find useful. The study will provide a thorough understanding of the impact of online teaching and learning in higher education. Finally, this study provides information to students, teachers, and researchers interested in e-learning.
Research is being conducted to expand the frontier of knowledge. This study will thus be conducted with the same goal in mind, particularly in the field of e-learning. It will undoubtedly contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the following ways.
First, the study will demonstrate the predictive power of the selected factors in determining academic performance, particularly socio-demographic factors, prior computer skills, and time management status. Finally, the study will benefit the government because it will demonstrate how providing adequate learning facilities can improve academic performance in our tertiary institutions across the country.
The study’s scope
The study’s scope includes Evaluating the effectiveness of online teaching and learning in higher education. A case study of Takoradi Sandwich Early Childhood students.
The study’s limitations
The researcher encounters some constraints that limit the scope of the study, which are as follows:
The researcher’s research material is insufficient, limiting the scope of the study.
The study’s time frame does not allow for broader coverage because the researcher must balance other academic activities and examinations with the study.
Inadequate funding tends to impede the researcher’s efficiency in locating relevant materials, literature, or information, as well as in the data collection process (internet, questionnaire, and interview).
The study’s limitations
This study is based on Sandwich Early Childhood students in Takoradi: the decision to limit the study to this organization is due to the time and cost involved in data collection.
Term definitions
Online education is education that takes place over the Internet. It is also known as “e-learning,” among other things. However, online learning is only one type of “distance learning” – the umbrella term for any learning that occurs over time and not in a traditional classroom setting.
Higher education is tertiary education that leads to the award of a degree.
Distance learning is a method of learning that allows students to learn without having regular face-to-face contact with a teacher in the classroom.
E-learning is the use of electronic technologies to access educational content outside of a traditional classroom setting.
The Internet is a global computer network that provides a variety of information and communication services. It is made up of interconnected networks that use standardized communication protocols.
Takoradi’s geographical area.
Sekondi-Takoradi is a city made up of the twin towns of Sekondi and Takoradi. It is the administrative center of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly and the Western Region of Ghana. With a population of 445,205 people, Sekondi-Takoradi is the region’s largest city and an industrial and commercial center (2012).
Sekondi-main Takoradi’s industries are timber, cocoa processing, plywood, shipbuilding, harbor, and railway repair, and, more recently, sweet crude oil and crude oil. Fishing is the primary occupation in Sekondi-Takoradi. Sekondi-Takoradi is located on the main railway lines connecting Kumasi and Accra.
The majority of the people in Sekondi-Takoradi are Christians. 35 percent of the region is Pentecostal/Charismatic, 26 percent is Protestant, 14 percent is Catholic, and the remaining 12 percent is made up of various minor denominations. 9 percent of the population is Muslim, 3.5 percent is unaffiliated, and 0.2 percent practices traditional African religions. The Ahanta people are the most populous ethnic group in Sekondi.
Do You Have a New or Fresh Topic? Send Us Your Topic
ANALYSIS OF ONLINE TEACHING AND LEARNING IN HIGHER EDUCATION