Abstract
Virtual learning, also known as online learning or distance learning has transformed the face of the education system for quite some time. Now, it is rapidly becoming an integral aspect and a common tool, in the broader aspect of higher education, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to providing an alternative method of learning in the digital age, online learning offers students the opportunity to learn new skills or improve existing ones. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Following the speed with which COVID-19 spread to all parts of the world and to curb the spread of the disease, most governments around the world, including the Republic of Kosovo, authorized unprecedented social control measures to stop this disease unknown. These measures, among others, required social distancing and temporary physical closure of educational institutions. The first case of COVID 19 in Kosovo was identified on March 13, 2020, social distancing - full closure came into force on March 15, while UBT Higher Education Institution started online learning on March 16, 2020, the first in Kosovo and possibly in the Western Balkans. This teaching-learning process was a novelty for Kosovo and was applied for the first time. Objective: The main objective of the current survey was to study the impact of E-learning on students' academic performance and their evaluations of this form of teaching in general. The purpose of this paper is to reflect as professionally as possible the organization of distance learning, the effects on the teaching and learning process as well as the form and level of communication and teacher-student relations in this process which was a novelty for Kosovo and UBT as one of the largest Private Colleges in the region.
Highlights
Online learning continues to be a topic of debate in terms of the teaching and learning process, methodological and pedagogical aspects, achievement of objectives and other dilemmas related to this form of knowledge transmission by teachers
The result of the evaluation by the students was: As professional 50%, very good 14.30 %, good 28.60%, non-professional 7.10% and not good 0%. From this assessment of the surveyed students we estimate that the teaching and learning process as the first of its kind in our institution had been developed in optimal frameworks that can be considered encouraging as the first experience of online learning development and the socio-emotional aspect of students and teachers during a period of closure and social distance that undoubtedly had a negative impact and consequences on this correlation
When asked if there was interactivity during the lectures, how effective the teachers were and if the students’ questions and requests were answered and fulfilled, we received the following assessments from the students: Yes 50%, on average 37.50% and No 14.50%, which we estimate that based on the time, the general atmosphere, the uncertainty and panic that prevailed in that time period, these are responses and estimates that exceed the optimum expectations
Summary
Online learning continues to be a topic of debate in terms of the teaching and learning process, methodological and pedagogical aspects, achievement of objectives and other dilemmas related to this form of knowledge transmission by teachers These debates are ongoing in countries still in transitional state, who have not had any tradition in applying this form of teaching. Research on online teaching and learning shows that they are effective only if students have constant access to the Internet and computers and if teachers have received targeted training and support for online learning Because these necessary requirements for effectiveness have been largely lacking for many people, distance education during the pandemic has hampered learning and teaching (Garcia & Weiss, 2020). This aspect and the evaluation by the students themselves is addressed in this paper
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
