Google Meet during COVID 19 Pandemic: When Teachers Raise the Challenge

Abstract

Under the shade of coronavirus pandemic, schools and universities worldwide have moved towards online learning to assure the continuity of academic activities. Great interest was, hence, directed towards the opinions and stands of teachers about distant online education. It is of paramount importance to inspect teachers’ perceptions and attitudes. When they have positive perceptions about online education, teachers also adopt positive attitudes towards educational technology. Thus, they would accept the change and challenge the shift to online virtual classes. This research studies the online learning process and which mechanisms teachers have utilized to prop up virtual learning. The central questions that shape this study are: what are the perspectives and attitudes of EFL teachers about using Google Meet in online classes? Which challenges would make them resist the change? The present research work under inspection aims to give an in-depth look at online teaching and learning in the Algerian context during the Covid-19 Pandemic, by considering the department of English Language at Oran University as a case study. The study’s findings show that participants have overall positive perspectives and attitudes about using Google Meet during the ongoing pandemic with many challenges. Developing digital proficiency of teachers and students, enhancing students’ motivation, and assuring the quality of internet facilities were the leading suggestions for an effective shift to online education.