Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology
Adoption level of online learning by students: Evidence from an emerging academic institution in South Africa
Sindisiwe Lungile Sifundza 1, Reward Utete 2 *
More Detail
1 Management College of Southern Africa, Durban, South Africa
2 University of Zululand, South Africa
* Corresponding Author
Open Access Full Text (PDF)
ARTICLE INFO

Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology, 2023 - Volume 5 Issue 4, pp. 1-11
https://doi.org/10.33902/jpsp.202322407

Article Type: Research Article

Published Online: 18 Nov 2023

Views: 836 | Downloads: 513

ABSTRACT
Although online learning has been in practice for many decades, the recent surge in the adoption of online learning is closely related to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in the post COVID-19 pandemic period, hybrid learning method continue to take the centre stage in various academic institutions in which most activities gravitate towards online teaching and learning. Although many studies have investigated this area, limited information is available regarding the level of adoption of online learning particularly in emerging and still growing academic institutions. Thus, this study attempts to fill in the void. This research paper accentuates on adoption level of online learning with an emerging college in South Africa serving as the case study. In this study, a descriptive research design and quantitative research approach. The key findings of the study revealed that there was still a low level of adoption and use of online tools for teaching and learning at the emerging academic college. In the same vein, the results of this study found that effective learner management systems such as Moodle has not been fully integrated at the institution for online learning. It was evident from the results that poor infrastructure, lack of finance, poor access to internet and incompetent technical support were the key obstacles that hinder effective adoption of online learning. The paper is invaluable as it identified the hindrances to the full adoption of online learning at the college. 
KEYWORDS
online learning hybrid learning method physical learning method students technical support educational institution
In-text citation: (Sifundza & Utete, 2023)
Reference: Sifundza, S. L., & Utete, R. (2023). Adoption level of online learning by students: Evidence from an emerging academic institution in South Africa. Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology, 5(4), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.33902/jpsp.202322407
In-text citation: (1), (2), (3), etc.
Reference: Sifundza SL, Utete R. Adoption level of online learning by students: Evidence from an emerging academic institution in South Africa. Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology. 2023;5(4), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.33902/jpsp.202322407
In-text citation: (1), (2), (3), etc.
Reference: Sifundza SL, Utete R. Adoption level of online learning by students: Evidence from an emerging academic institution in South Africa. Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology. 2023;5(4):1-11. https://doi.org/10.33902/jpsp.202322407
In-text citation: (Sifundza and Utete, 2023)
Reference: Sifundza, Sindisiwe Lungile, and Reward Utete. "Adoption level of online learning by students: Evidence from an emerging academic institution in South Africa". Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology 2023 5 no. 4 (2023): 1-11. https://doi.org/10.33902/jpsp.202322407
In-text citation: (Sifundza and Utete, 2023)
Reference: Sifundza, S. L., and Utete, R. (2023). Adoption level of online learning by students: Evidence from an emerging academic institution in South Africa. Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology, 5(4), pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.33902/jpsp.202322407
In-text citation: (Sifundza and Utete, 2023)
Reference: Sifundza, Sindisiwe Lungile et al. "Adoption level of online learning by students: Evidence from an emerging academic institution in South Africa". Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology, vol. 5, no. 4, 2023, pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.33902/jpsp.202322407
REFERENCES
  • Adedoyin, O. B., & Soykan, E. (2020). Covid-19 pandemic and online learning: the challenges and opportunities. Interactive learning environments, 31(2), 863-875. https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2020.1813180
  • Agung, A. S. N., Surtikanti, M. W., & Quinones, C. A. (2020). Students’ perception of online learning during COVID-19 pandemic: A case study on the English students of STKIP Pamane Talino. SOSHUM: Jurnal Sosial Dan Humaniora, 10(2), 225-235. https://doi.org/10.31940/soshum.v10i2.1316
  • Bacher-Hicks, A., Goodman, J., & Mulhern, C. (2021). Inequality in household adaptation to schooling shocks: Covid-induced online learning engagement in real time. Journal of Public Economics, 193(1),1-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2020.104345
  • Barrot, J. S., Llenares, I. I., & Del Rosario, L. S. (2021). Students’ online learning challenges during the pandemic and how they cope with them: The case of the Philippines. Education and information technologies, 26(6), 7321-7338. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10589-x
  • Basilaia, G., & Kvavadze, D. (2020). Transition to online education in schools during a SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Georgia. Pedagogical Research, 5(4), em0060. https://doi.org/10.29333/pr/7937
  • Camargo, C. P., Tempski, P. Z., Busnardo, F. F., Martins, M. D. A., & Gemperli, R. (2020). Online learning and COVID-19: a meta-synthesis analysis. Clinics, 75. https://doi.org/10.6061/clinics/2020/e2286
  • Coomey, M., & Stephenson, J. (2001). Online learning: it is all about dialogue, involvement, support and control-according to the research. Teaching and learning online: Pedagogies for new technologies, 23(1), 37-52.
  • Dasopang, M. D. (2021). Online learning during the covid-19 pandemic: How is it implemented in elementary schools?. Premiere Educandum: Journal Pendidikan Dasar Dan Pembelajaran, 11(1), 120-134. https://doi.org/10.25273/pe.v11i1.8618
  • Dhawan, S. (2020). Online learning: A panacea in the time of COVID-19 crisis. Journal of educational technology systems, 49(1), 5-22. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047239520934018
  • Duma, S. L., & Utete, R. (2023). Tracking and unpacking the impact of Covid-19 on informal food traders in South Africa. Management and Entrepreneurship: Trends of Development, 1(23), 21-27. https://doi.org/10.26661/2522-1566/2023-1/23-02
  • Haq, A.N.U., Shahzad, K., Ahmed, U., Hussain, S.J. & Sajid, A. (2018). Web technologies are used for virtual classrooms. In Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Future Networks and Distributed Systems. https://doi.org/10.1145/3231053.3234633
  • Hermawan, D. (2021). The rise of e-learning in covid-19 pandemic in private university: challenges and opportunities. IJORER: International Journal of Recent Educational Research, 2(1), 86-95. https://doi.org/10.46245/ijorer.v2i1.77
  • Hewage, C. (2021). Introduction to research approach: Introduction to Research Approaches. London, Sage.
  • Hussain, I. H. I., Saeed, R. M. B., & Syed, A. F. (2020). A study on effectiveness of online learning system during COVID-19 in Sargodha. International Journal of Language and Literary Studies, 2(4), 122-137. https://doi.org/10.36892/ijlls.v2i4.404
  • Kauffman, H. (2015). A review of predictive factors of student success in and satisfaction with online learning. Research in Learning Technology, 23(1),1-13. https://doi.org/10.3402/rlt.v23.26507
  • Kuama, S. (2016). Is online learning suitable for all English language students?. PASAA: Journal of Language Teaching and Learning in Thailand, 52(1), 53-82.
  • Kundu, A. (2018). Blended learning in Indian elementary education: Problems and prospects. Journal of Online Learning Research, 4(2), 199-227. https://www.learntechlib.org/p/180971/
  • Mart, Ç. T. (2017). Student evaluations of teaching effectiveness in higher education. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 7(10), 2222-6990. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v7-i9/3323
  • Mpungose, C. B. (2021). Lecturers’ reflections on use of Zoom video conferencing technology for e-learning at a South African university in the context of coronavirus. African Identities, 1(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1080/14725843.2021.1902268
  • Müller, A. M., Goh, C., Lim, L. Z., & Gao, X. (2021). Covid-19 emergency elearning and beyond: Experiences and perspectives of university educators. Education Sciences, 11(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci11010019
  • Nguyen, T. (2015). The effectiveness of online learning: Beyond no significant difference and future horizons. MERLOT Journal of online learning and teaching, 11(2), 309-319.
  • Ortagus, J. C. (2017). From the periphery to prominence: An examination of the changing profile of online students in American higher education. The Internet and Higher Education, 32(1), 47-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iheduc.2016.09.002
  • Petronzi, R., & Petronzi, D. (2020). The Online and Campus (OaC) model as a sustainable blended approach to teaching and learning in higher education: A response to COVID-19. Journal of Pedagogical Research, 4(4), 498-507. https://doi.org/10.33902/JPR.2020064475
  • Roddy, C., Amiet, D. L., Chung, J., Holt, C., Shaw, L., McKenzie, S., & Mundy, M. E. (2017). Applying best practice online learning, teaching, and support to intensive online environments: An integrative review. Pretoria, Frontiers Media SA.
  • Roman, M. & Plopeanu, A.P. (2021). The effectiveness of the emergency eLearning during COVID-19 pandemic. The case of higher education in economics in Romania. International Review of Economics Education, 37(1), 100-218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iree.2021.100218
  • Sattayaraksa, W. D., Luangrangsee, P., Ratsameemonthon, C., & Sulisworo, D. (2023). Understanding how demographic factors influence faculty member's perceptions of online learning success: A case study in Thai private higher education. Journal of Pedagogical Research, 7(5), 48-68. https://doi.org/10.33902/JPR.202323519
  • Scheuren, F. (2005). Multiple imputations: How it began and continues. The American Statistician, 59(4), 315-319. https://doi.org/10.1198/000313005X74016
  • Shahzad, K., Jianqiu, Z., Hashim, M., Nazam, M., & Wang, L. (2020). Impact of using information and communication technology and renewable energy on health expenditure: A case study from Pakistan. Energy, 204(1), 117-130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2020.117956
  • Strong, K., & Hutchins, H. M. (2009). Connectivism: A theory for learning in a world of growing complexity. Impact: Journal of Applied Research in Workplace E-learning, 1(1), 53-67.
  • Watt-Watson, J., McGillion, M., Lax, L., Oskarsson, J., Hunter, J., MacLennan, C., Knickle, K. & Victor, J.C. (2019). Evaluating an innovative elearning pain education interprofessional resource: a pre–post study. Pain Medicine, 20(1), 37-49. https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pny105
  • Zalat, M. M., Hamed, M. S. & Bolbol, S. A., (2021). The experiences, challenges, and acceptance of e-learning as a tool for teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic among university medical staff. PloS one, 16(3), 248-758. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0248758
LICENSE
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.