Abstract
Before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis, most academic institutions, i.e., schools, colleges, and universities in Kuwait utilized face-to-face settings, and hence, were based on only traditional methods of learning. Although many academic institutions have started employing blended learning, several institutions continue to stick with conventional procedures. The sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis has shaken the educational sector in Kuwait, and the Middle East and North Africa region by forcing instructors to shift to the online mode of teaching overnight to maintain their status. Many instructors hesitant of readjusting their conventional pedagogical approach have had no option except shifting solely to an online teaching environment. Consequently, the purpose of this study is to shed light on the challenges and highlight the success factors of e-learning and the online teaching approach during the COVID-19 crisis. This study also proposes some useful suggestions for professionals in higher education institutions, i.e., senior managers, leaders, and others, on dealing with the challenges associated with the online paradigm in the post-COVID-19 crisis time-period.
Highlights
E-learning or online education is an electronic system through which education can be imparted via the internet.The key objective of the e-learning system is to provide education in situations where students and instructors are separated by time and/or distance [1]
Challenge for many academic institutions in Kuwait because of the deficiency in utilizing e-learning, as reflected in its low adoption rate, low quality, and the style of pedagogy, before COVID-19. This deficiency was the result of universities preferring traditional lectures over online courses, due to which there were limited online classes offered before COVID-19, and the implementation of the online paradigm remained restricted
The results revealed that instructors were willing to teach online courses again in the future and students were satisfied with the online teaching experience, but the quality of online teaching was lower than that in traditional classroom settings
Summary
E-learning or online education is an electronic system through which education can be imparted via the internet.The key objective of the e-learning system is to provide education in situations where students and instructors are separated by time and/or distance [1]. University leaders, faculty members/instructors, and administrators faced significant challenges in adapting to online teaching, maintaining the minimum communication with students, and supporting the learning process. The transition to online learning was certainly a challenge for many academic institutions in Kuwait because of the deficiency in utilizing e-learning, as reflected in its low adoption rate, low quality, and the style of pedagogy, before COVID-19. This deficiency was the result of universities preferring traditional lectures over online courses, due to which there were limited online classes offered before COVID-19, and the implementation of the online paradigm remained restricted
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