Issue

Vol. 48 No. 2 (2023): Africa Development: Special Issue on Covid-19 Pandemic and African Economies (Including a Revised Text of the Second Thandika Mkandawire Annual Memorial Lecture)

6 - Digital Learning Response in the Midst of the Covid-19 Pandemic: The Case of Mauritius

https://doi.org/10.57054/ad.v48i2.5083
Verena Tandrayen-Ragoobur
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8977-754X
Boopen Seetanah
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5024-3084
Sheereen Fauzel
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5297-1808
Viraiyan Teeroovengadum
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3270-8532

Corresponding Author(s) : Viraiyan Teeroovengadum

v.teeroovengadum@uom.ac.mu

Africa Development, Vol. 48 No. 2 (2023): Africa Development: Special Issue on Covid-19 Pandemic and African Economies (Including a Revised Text of the Second Thandika Mkandawire Annual Memorial Lecture)

Abstract

This article investigates learners’ perception of their ability to adapt to online learning and the challenges they encountered as well as the opportunities they found in this new e-learning environment, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. A comprehensive survey was undertaken using an online questionnaire circulated among male and female students across various faculties at five universities and business schools in Mauritius. The results indicate that Covid-19 was a major disruption in higher education studies. Despite the online learning approach, students enrolled in STEM degrees were more impacted compared to those in non-STEM degrees. Around one-third of the students asserted that online learning was a major challenge, more so for those in the lowest-income group who lacked the necessary digital tools to adapt to this new learning environment. A non-conducive home environment further had a negative bearing on students’ concentration and ability to cope with their studies. We noted that postgraduate students adapt to digital learning better compared to undergraduates. There is thus a need to rethink, revamp and redesign the education system to be prepared for future shocks and build resilience through the application of best practices in the digitalisation of the education system.

Keywords

digital learning learners’ perceptions higher education STEM degrees Covid-19
[1]
Verena Tandrayen-Ragoobur, Boopen Seetanah, Sheereen Fauzel and Viraiyan Teeroovengadum 2023. 6 - Digital Learning Response in the Midst of the Covid-19 Pandemic: The Case of Mauritius. Africa Development. 48, 2 (Aug. 2023). DOI:https://doi.org/10.57054/ad.v48i2.5083.
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
BibTeX
References
  1. Akuratiya, D.A., and Meddage, D.N., 2020, 'Students’ perception of online learning during Covid-19 pandemic: A survey study of IT students', Tablet, Vol. 57, No. 48, p. 23.
  2. Arslan, G., 2021, 'Loneliness, college belongingness, subjective vitality, and psychological adjustment during coronavirus pandemic: Development of the College Belongingness Questionnaire', Journal of Positive School Psychology, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 17–31.
  3. Bartley, S.J., and Golek, J.H., 2004, 'Evaluating the cost effectiveness of online and face-to-face instruction', Journal of Educational Technology and Society, Vol. 7, No. 4, pp. 167–175.
  4. Bazelais, P., Doleck, T., and Lemay, D.J., 2018, 'Investigating the predictive power of TAM: A case study of CEGEP students’ intentions to use online learning technologies', Education and Information Technologies, Vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 93–111.
  5. Benedikt, M., 1991, Introduction to cyberspace: First steps, MIT Press. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/8517/59b84ee29d8fd9ee66b90316e4bc08406e15.pdf, 25, p. 2018.
  6. Bernard, R.M., Abrami, P.C., Lou, Y., Borokhovski, E., Wade, A., Wozney, L., Wallet, P.A., Fiset, M., and Huang, B., 2004, 'How does distance education compare with classroom instruction? A meta-analysis of the empirical literature', Review of Educational Research, Vol. 74, No. 3, pp. 379–439.
  7. Bowen, W.G., 2013, Higher education in the digital age, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
  8. Calderón-Garrido, D., León-Gómez, A., and Gil-Fernández, R., 2021, 'Influence of Covid on the Educational Use of Social Media by Students of Teaching Degrees', Education in the Knowledge Society, Vol. 22, Article e23623. https://doi.org/10.14201/eks.23623.
  9. Cole, A.W., Lennon, L., and Weber, N.L., 2019, 'Student perceptions of online active learning practices and online learning climate predict online course engagement', Interactive Learning Environments, Vol. 29, No. 5, pp. 866–880.
  10. Cole-Lewis, H., Ezeanochie, N., and Turgiss, J., 2019, 'Understanding health behavior technology engagement: pathway to measuring digital behavior change interventions', JMIR Formative Research, Vol. 3, No. 4, p.e14052.
  11. Doleck, T., Bazelais, P., and Lemay, D.J., 2017, 'Examining the antecedents of Facebook acceptance via structural equation modeling: A case of CEGEP students', Knowledge Management and E-Learning: An International Journal, Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 69–89.
  12. Donthu, N., and Gustafsson, A., 2020, 'Effects of Covid-19 on business and research', Journal of Business Research, Vol. 117, pp. 284–289.
  13. Dynarski, S., and Scott-Clayton, J., 2013, 'Financial aid policy: Lessons from research', The Future of Children, Postsecondary Education in the United States, Vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 67–91.
  14. Ebner, C., and Gegenfurtner, A., 2019, 'Learning and satisfaction in webinar, online, and face-to-face instruction: a meta-analysis', Frontiers in Education, Vol. 4, p. 92.
  15. Elshami, W., Taha, M.H., Abuzaid, M., Saravanan, C., Al Kawas, S., and Abdalla, M.E., 2021, Satisfaction with online learning in the new normal: perspective of students and faculty at medical and health sciences colleges, Medical Education Online, Vol. 26, No. 1, p.1920090.
  16. Feeley, M., and Parris, J., 2012, An Assessment of the PeerWise Student-Contribu- ted Question System’s Impact on Learning Outcomes: Evidence from a Large Enrollment Political Science Course. Available at SSRN 2144375.
  17. Lee, L.K., Fung, Y.C., Pun, Y.W., Wong, K.K., Yu, M.T.Y., and Wu, N.I., 2020, Using a multiplatform chatbot as an online tutor in a university course, 2020 International Symposium on Educational Technology (ISET) IEEE, pp. 53–56.
  18. García-Peñalvo, F.J., Corell, A., Abella-García, V., and Grande-de-Prado, M., 2021, 'Recommendations for mandatory online assessment in higher education during the Covid-19 pandemic', in Burgos, D., Tlili, A. and Tabacco, A. eds. Radical solutions for education in a crisis context, Singapore: Springer, pp. 85–98.
  19. Gómez-Rey, P., Barbera, E., and Fernández-Navarro, F., 2017, 'Student voices on the roles of instructors in asynchronous learning environments in the 21st century', International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, Vol. 18, No. 2, pp. 234–251.
  20. González-Gómez, D., Jeong, J.S., and Airado Rodríguez, D., 2016, 'Performance and perception in the flipped learning model: an initial approach to evaluate the effectiveness of a new teaching methodology in a general science classroom', Journal of Science Education and Technology, Vol. 25, No. 3, pp. 450–459.
  21. Hachey, A.C., Conway, K.M., Wladis, C., and Karim, S., 2022, 'Post-secondary online learning in the US: an integrative review of the literature on undergraduate student characteristics', Journal of Computing in Higher Education, pp.1–61.
  22. Hazra, A., 2017, 'Using the confidence interval confidently', Journal of Thoracic Disease, Vol. 9, No. 10, p. 4125.
  23. Hehir, E., Zeller, M., Luckhurst, J., and Chandler, T., 2021, 'Developing student connectedness under remote learning using digital resources: A systematic review', Education and Information Technologies, Vol. 26, No. 5, pp. 6531–6548.
  24. Kaufmann, R., and Vallade, J.I., 2020, Exploring connections in the online learning environment: student perceptions of rapport, climate, and loneliness, Interactive Learning Environments, pp.1–15.
  25. Kirby, D.M., and Boak, C., 1987, 'Developing a system for audio-teleconferencing analysis (SATA)', The Journal of Distance Education, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 31–42.
  26. Koohang, A., Paliszkiewicz, J., Klein, D., and Horn Nord, J., 2016, 'The importance of active learning elements in the design of online courses', Online Journal of Applied Knowledge Management (OJAKM), Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 17–28.
  27. Kramer, A., and Kramer, K.Z., 2020, 'The potential impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on occupational status, work from home, and occupational mobility', Journal of Vocational Behavior, Vol. 119, p. 103442.
  28. Lederman, D., 2020, 'How teaching changed in the (forced) shift to remote learning', Inside Higher Ed, Vol. 22.
  29. Lemay, D.J., Bazelais, P., and Doleck, T., 2021, 'Transition to online learning during the Covid-19 pandemic', Computers in Human Behavior Reports, Vol. 4, p. 100130.
  30. Lemay, D.J., and Doleck, T., 2020, 'Online learning communities in the Covid-19 pandemic: Social learning network analysis of twitter during the shutdown, International Journal for Learning Analytics and Artificial Intelligence for Education, Vol. 2, No. 20.
  31. Li, L., Wu, H., Ye, X., Liu, C., and Wang, W., 2021, 'Students’ initial perspectives on online learning experience in China during the Covid-19 outbreak: expanding online education for future doctors on a national scale', BMC Medical Education, Vol. 21, No, 1, pp. 1–10.
  32. Lorenzetti, L., 2013, 'Developing a cohesive emancipatory social work identity: Risking an act of love', Critical Social Work, Vol. 14, No. 2.
  33. Marinoni, G., and Van’t Land, H., 2020, 'The Impact of Covid-19 on Global Higher Education', International Higher Education, Vol. 102, pp. 7–9, https://ejournals.bc.edu/index.php/ihe/article/view/14593
  34. Martinez, J., 2020, Take this pandemic moment to improve education. https://edsource. org/2020/take-this-pandemic-moment-to-improve-education/633500.
  35. Mishra, L., Gupta, T., and Shree, A., 2020, 'Online teaching-learning in higher education during lockdown period of Covid-19 pandemic', International Journal of Educational Research Open, Vol. 1, p. 100012.
  36. Mugo, K., Odera N., and Wachira M., 2020, Surveying the impact of Covid-19 on Africa’s higher education and research sector. Africa Portal. https://www.africaportal.org/features/surveying-impact-covid-19-africas-higher-education-and-research-sectors/
  37. Navarro, P., and Shoemaker, J., 2000, 'Performance and perceptions of distance learners in cyberspace', American Journal of Distance Education, Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 15–35.
  38. Nguyen, T., 2015, 'The effectiveness of online learning: Beyond no significant dif- ference and future horizons', MERLOT Journal of Online Learning and Teaching, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 309–319.
  39. Northey, G., Bucic, T., Chylinski, M., and Govind, R., 2015, 'Increasing student engagement using asynchronous learning', Journal of Marketing Education, Vol. 37, No. 3, pp. 171–180.
  40. Paudel, P., 2020, 'Online education: Benefits, challenges and strategies during and after Covid-19 in higher education', International Journal on Studies in Education, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 70–85.
  41. Pokhrel, S. and Chhetri, R., 2021, 'A literature review on impact of Covid-19 pandemic on teaching and learning', Higher Education for the Future, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 133–141.
  42. Reuell, P., 2019, Lessons in learning, The Harvard Gazette. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2019/09/study-shows-that-students-learn-more-when-taking-part-in-classrooms-that-employ-active-learning-strategies/
  43. Rovai, A.P., and Jordan, H.M., 2004, 'Blended learning and sense of community: A comparative analysis with traditional and fully online graduate courses', Interna- tional Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 1–13.
  44. Saghafi, M., Franz, J., and Crowther, P., 2014, 'A holistic model for blended learning', Journal of Interactive Learning Research, Vol. 25, No. 4, pp. 531–549.
  45. Schleicher, A., 2020, The Impact of Covid-19 on Education: Insights from ‘Education at a Glance 2020, OECD Publishing.
  46. Simamora, R.M., De Fretes, D., Purba, E.D., and Pasaribu, D., 2020, 'Practices, challenges, and prospects of online learning during Covid-19 pandemic in higher education: Lecturer perspectives', Studies in Learning and Teaching, Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 185–208.
  47. Song, L., Singleton, E.S., Hill, J.R., and Koh, M.H., 2004, 'Improving online learn- ing: Student perceptions of useful and challenging characteristics', The Internet and Higher Education, Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 59–70.
  48. Statistics Mauritius, 2020, Digest of Education Statistics 2020, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and Development, Port-Louis, Mauritius.
  49. Tsai, C.C., 2009, 'Conceptions of learning versus conceptions of web-based learning: The differences revealed by college students', Computers and Education, Vol. 53, No. 4, pp. 1092–1103.
  50. Tsai, C.W., 2017, 'Applications of social networking for universal access in online learning environments', Universal Access in the Information Society, Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 269–272.
  51. UNESCO, 2021, Distance learning strategies in response to Covid-19 school closures. UNESCO COVID-19 Education Response, Education sector issue notes, No. 2.1, April. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000373305
  52. Wang, C.X., and Kinuthia, W., 2004, Defining technology enhanced learning environment for pre-service teachers, Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education international conference, Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education, pp. 2724–2727.
  53. World Bank, 2021, Remote Learning During Covid-19: Lessons from Today, Principles for Tomorrow, https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/edutech/brief/how-countries-are-using-edtech-to-support-remote-learning-during-the-covid-19-pandemic
  54. Zhang, H.R., and Wang, X.D., 2006, Incremental and online learning algorithm for regression least squares support vector machine, Chinese Journal of Computers- Chinese Edition, Vol. 29, No. 3, p. 400.
Read More

Author Biographies

Verena Tandrayen-Ragoobur

Associate Professor in Economics. Department of Economics and Statistics,. Faculty of Social Studies and Humanities, University of Mauritius

Boopen Seetanah

 is a Professor at the University of Mauritius (UoM) with research interest in tourism and transport, international trade and finance

Sheereen Fauzel

Associate Professor. University of MauritiusUniversity of Mauritius. Vacoas, Plaines Wilhems District, Maurice.

Viraiyan Teeroovengadum

Associate Professor, University of Mauritius

Download
PDF
Statistic
Read Counter : 96 Download : 22

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.