Technical Education through Online Learning: Student Feedback

Abstract

Online learning has become the most sought after means for imparting education and conducting teaching-learning activities. Online learning has become a necessity rather than a choice, especially in the context of the ongoing pandemic. This paper provides a brief overview of online learning in technical education, emphasizes its need in the current times, and presents a case study in terms of its adoption by the authors’ institution. The study is preliminary in nature, as it was done during the initial months of the beginning of the pandemic and lockdown in India. The aim of the study was to understand the use of online mode for teaching, learning and evaluation using different platforms including MOODLE. A questionnaire survey was carried out among students regarding use of MOODLE for online classes and its use in mid semester examinations. Further the survey was also carried out among the faculty regarding the use of MOODLE for teaching, learning and assessment, and also regarding use of other platforms, and technical and infrastructural issues faced by them. Based on the analysis of the data obtained, 50% students and faculty were comfortable with the online initiative and remaining 50% had different issues. The authors, based on the results obtained, have provided suggestions in the context of reported literature for the students, faculty and institution. This preliminary study can provide a direction for the road ahead in using online mode more effectively to  mpart quality technical education to the students.