Some students still battling to adapt to online learning

Students across the country have been forced to transition to the online mode of learning since contact learning at universities and colleges was suspended due to the Coronavirus. But adapting to this new style of learning is not always easy. Thabang Malatji reports.

Universities found themselves under massive pressure to quickly implement remote education programmes that would best fit their students in an effort to save the academic year when the Coronavirus pandemic broke out.

They negotiated preferential data rates with service providers to assist students with connectivity so that they are able to study online during the lockdown.

Students across the country have different experiences with the new mode of learning. Some are grateful and some aggrieved with the new system.

Nthabiseng Raseona (19), a second-year, BSc Physiotherapy student, at the University of Witwatersrand, said her experience has been both positive and negative.

“One positive thing about learning online is that I get to create my own schedule. I no longer have to wake up very early in the morning to rush to class or to submit an assignment to a lecturer in his office. This gives me the liberty to study at my own pace and according to my own schedule,” Raseona said.

According to her, learning online comes with its own fair share of challenges as well. “When studying online, you get to realise how important contact sessions are. I understand the lesson better when I am listening to a lecture than when I am reading a lesson on a PDF document. So, it is a disadvantage on my side and I sometimes find myself having difficulties understanding the work.”

Wits has taken measures to ensure that all their students are able to study online. According to the university’s website, Wits gives students monthly data to help them access online resources on the university website.

“Wits University has partnered with Vodacom to implement a secure gateway, which enables staff and students to access teaching and learning resources. This solution will provide staff and students with 10GB daytime and 20GB night-owl data bundles per month for use on selected URLs that can be accessed through the Wits network for teaching and learning purposes,” the university wrote.

Like Wits University, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) has also put in place measures to ensure that its students are continuing with their studies. According to a communique from the university, students in need were provided with monthly data and devices to enable them to kick start their online studies.

 “The University of Johannesburg has reached agreements with cellular network providers, namely MTN, Cell C, Vodacom and Telkom, to provide all UJ undergraduate, honours and master’s students, registered in a formal (subsidised) programme, with 30GB (10GB anytime plus 20GB night owl data) for a period of 30 days,” UJ wrote.

Lesego Mothapo (18), a first-year, BCom Information Systems student at UJ, said she found online learning more challenging than beneficial. “It is difficult, especially because you have no one near you to hold you to account. The lecturers and the students are no longer moving in sync with one another. We are just given piles of work without anyone checking if we understood the content of the lessons,” Mothapo said

“We also have to keep in mind how difficult it is to study from home. Being on campus is beneficial because it is an academic environment, you always have that edge to study. When you are home it is a different story, you are not motivated to study, and when you are, the motivation only lasts for so long,” she added.

Sharing Mothapo’s sentiments is Lerato Makola, a first-year BA Sport Communication student at UJ. Makola said connectivity has been a serious issue since starting with the lessons online.

“I stay in Highveld, Mpumalanga, and there is no connectivity whatsoever; it is really difficult to study, research or write any assignments. Due to bad connectivity, I missed three assignment deadlines. I am concerned about my marks because I have not been doing well since we started learning online,” Makola said.

She raised another concern about her living conditions which hinder her from learning online effectively.

“In my house, there are several kids and I share a room with some of them. So, it is extremely difficult to study with the kids making noise and running around in the room. I wish there was an alternative way for people like me who find it impossible to study because of the conditions at home,” she said.

Students at the North-West University (NWU) also receive their fair share of free data which enables them to study online and to access online resources. The university also ensured that poor students without devices to study online are catered for.  A communique sent by Vice-Chancellor, Dan Kgwadi, read, “The university acquired a significant number of laptops/devices that will be issued to qualifying students.”

Dineo Mothapo (20), a third-year BEd student at NWU said, she is happy with the work done by the University to ensure that she is able to study from home.

“Learning online has been very convenient for me, thanks to the support of our institution. I am able to work at my own pace and I am enjoying every moment. I am not under as much pressure as I would be when I am on campus which means I can be able to do all my work at my own time,” she said.

Pheladi Fakude, a BA languages lecturer at NWU, said challenges were to be expected as students transition to the new mode of learning.

“Students were used to the routine of meeting with their lecturers every week during contact sessions, and suddenly all that changed. They are now faced with a way of learning that is completely new to them. It is only reasonable that one would expect a few challenges to come from this sudden change,” Fakude said.

She said the university, working together with the lecturers, is doing everything in its power to assist all the students to overcome their challenges.

“The lessons are structured in a way that would make it easy for the students to understand without the need for contact sessions. The lessons were made to be interactive as much as possible through the use of chat rooms, forums and sometimes social media platforms,” she said.

“So, the challenges are there, and I receive countless emails from students about the issues they are facing. But nonetheless, we continue to address those issues and we try to ensure that no student is left behind,” she added.