Online Teaching During COVID-19: Empirical Evidence During Indian Lockdown

The availability of digital platforms enabled the much needed continuity in teaching–learning during challenging pandemic conditions. This research paper explores the different factors that determine the outcome of online teaching–learning process and the shortcomings faced by the key stakeholders. The impact of identified factors affecting online education on students enrolled for different courses is studied. This study provides valuable inputs to the teaching fraternity in understanding the student’s opinion on various routine issues faced in online methodology. The student-centric factors like overall study engagement, attentiveness and attitude of the students towards online classes is also found and this would contribute in enhancing the quality of teaching–learning. Most surveyed students have expressed satisfaction with the present mode of studies due to persisting lockdown conditions forced due to COVID-19. The students have shown preference towards blended learning in coming times when normal teaching in classrooms resumes. The findings of the study are based on sample comprising of 646 students from science, management, commerce, engineering, agriculture, law, humanities and fine arts. The interface factors including hardware, software and Internet are found to be extremely important along with the students and teacher in this mode of teaching.