Analysis of university students' opinions on the Covid-19 process and the distance education method applied in this process: The sample of Muş Alparslan University

Bayram Arıcı

African Educational Research Journal
Published: October 30 2020
Volume 8, Special Issue 2
Pages S344-S352
DOI: https://doi.org/10.30918/AERJ.8S2.20.064

Abstract

The coronavirus disease, which began to spread from China to the world starting from December 2019, has also negatively affected Turkey and has caused deaths of more than six thousand Turkish citizens until now. The virus has affected the social life in many aspects, and educational institutions conducted their courses using electronic and technological facilities such as online applications with distance education method in the second semester of the 2019-2020 academic year. During this process, courses were conducted using distance education method at Muş Alparslan University as well. This research is conducted in order to reveal university students' opinions on distance education, which is connected with the Kovid-19 process, and to offer solutions to the problems encountered during this process. In the research, the opinions of Muş Alparslan University students are collected by means of semi-structured interview forms, and obtained data is analyzed with qualitative data analysis methods. 322 students studying in different departments took part in the study. In the study, it is found that the coronavirus process negatively affects university students. The students participating in the study describes this process as a hard and distressing process and a process that requires precautions. In addition, students state that economic and psychological problems as well as the socialization problem have increased within their families, and that their relations with friends are badly affected by the process. Students point out that courses conducted using distance education method in this process are sufficient, that technological insufficiencies hinder this education and that too much homework are given to them. They also express their desire that live online courses and exams should be conducted. Students think that materials used in courses in the Covid-19 process are sufficient (68.63%) and say that they have no difficulty in communicating with course lecturers (71.74%).

Keywords: Coronavirus, Covid-19, distance education, university students.

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