An Analysis of Online Learning in Maldivian S...

An Analysis of Online Learning in Maldivian Schools during Pandemic

Author Name : Zubair Ansari

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 Pandemic has had a serious impact on schools, teachers and educational establishments around the world. The Pandemic compelled schools, colleges and universities to shut down their campuses so that students could follow the social distancing policies, and has prompted academic experts to take distant learning as a viable choice instead of the traditional methods of face-to-face learning. So, this health crisis has challenged the overall educational systems. This paper is the first paper to collect data from Maldivian schools to examine the student’s attitudes towards online learning in Maldives amid COVID-19. As a lecturer (Computer Science) and IT Coordinator in Maldivian school, I studied online learning challenges and achievements. This study examined issues related to technical challenges, electronic communication, online learning motivation, students’ personal attributes and competencies, and their interactions with classmates and instructors. The findings of this study will provide useful insights regarding the students’ attitude towards currently adopted methods of online learning and suggest several implications that could aid educational institutions in the formulation of strategies that would enhance the overall online learning experiences. This paper also serves as a foundation for further research and discussion.

Keywords: Online Learning, Challenges, Schools, Students and Maldives.