Students’ Perception about Online Classes during Covid-19 Pandemic: A Study with Reference to College Students of Puducherry

Abstract

The main purpose of the study is to look into the perception of students about the online classes which they are attending during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present paper aims to study the college students' perception [both Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) level] about their online classes conducted during the pandemic period. The data was collected using structured questionnaire (online survey) from the college students in Puducherry. The students 'perception has been studied using various parameters viz., online class benefits, drawbacks of online class, changes needed in the online class and the effectiveness of online teaching. The analysis has been done using Mann-Whitney U Test, Correlation and Simple Linear Regression model. The study reveals that there exists a significant difference between UG and PG students with regard to the changes expected to be implemented in the online classes whereas the students' perception do not vary significantly with regard to the 'effectiveness' and the 'benefits' they obtained from online classes. Using correlation, the study found a significant positive relationship between online teaching and the benefits obtained from it. Finally, the study proved that the benefit obtained by the students in online classes is fully dependent on the effective method of teaching.