EMERGENCY REMOTE TEACHING DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC: CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE SUGGESTIONS

Abstract

This article explores the perceptions of high school students of emergency remote teaching (ERT) in Turkiye. The research used the qualitative method of conducting semi-structured interviews with 144 students at higher education. The descriptive case study type (a single case with embedded units) was applied. The qualitative data collected through the interviews were analyzed using content analysis technique. Research results reveal that views of the participants on the challenges of ERT are developed into 8 themes: Digital pedagogy, technical infrastructure and accessibility, digital competences, compatibility, assessment and evaluation, heavy workload, and lack of learning motivation while their opinions on opportunities of distance education include 5 themes: lifelong learning opportunities, flexibility, experiencing ERT or hybrid education, digital transformation in education, and an alternative to student mobility. The suggestions made by students are developed into 7 themes: creating accessible materials, university and institutional IT department-supported digital technologies, adopting a flexible approach to student participation, ensuring financial support and equipment, adopting hybrid learning, developing digital competences, and evaluation and assessment methods.