Opinions of university students on effects of distance learning in Turkey during the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the opinions of university students’ about distance education during the Covid-19 pandemic. The study could be guiding for similar situations in the future. The study was carried out according to the phenomenological research method, one of the methods in qualitative research methods. The data were collected from 84 students from 4 different public universities in four regions, Black Sea Region, Mediterranean Region, Central Anatolia Region, Eastern Anatolia Region between April and December 2020, with a semi-structured interview form through Instagram interviews. According to the findings, the majority (f=61) of the participant declared that they were well informed by their universities and instructors about the processes of distance education. Almost half of the participants stated that they had no important problem reaching the distance education system. However, most of the participants (f=47) declared that they had problems in time. The participants shared the opinion that the course documents loaded by the instructors were sufficient, clear and instructive, and the live courses were useful. Most of the participants (f=62) declared that using homework, projects and presentations as a means of course measurement method is useful. The study showed that participants (f=70) had no communication problem with their instructors during the process. Students (f=75) also suggested distance education be used in similar situations. Before the study consent of the Social Sciences Research Committee was taken, students’ approval was taken online.

Keywords: Covid-19, distance education, education during the epidemics, university students’ opinions.

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