Perceptions on online video tutorials for perceived difficult assignments in a Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Electrical Engineering subject at an African University of Technology: COVID-19 lockdown solutions

Abstract

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the President of South Africa, declared a national state of disaster with immediate travel restrictions and complete closure of universities, effective 18 March 2020. No face-to-face classes were allowed and most of the remaining semester had to be delivered online with, among other methods, online videos. The content for the subject Digital Technology III is perceived by students as difficult to comprehend and they indicated that face-to-face delivery was preferable. It was decided to fill this face-to-face gap with online video tutorials, but at the time of this study, it was found that there were not many relevant videos already available. The lack of relevant videos further reiterates the statement from students of it being perceived as difficult concepts. The facilitator created the content to be relevant to the syllabus and measured student perceptions of the benefits of the content for online learning. An online survey was designed, ethical clearance granted, and after the assignments were due the survey was made available for completion. Of the active students in the subject, 36% completed the survey. Results indicated the perception of these generated online video tutorials as well as the impact they may have on the future, more digitally inclined, demographic. Positive feedback was obtained from the sample.