Experiences of B. Ed Students on the use of E-Learning as a Vehicle to Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Ntombozuko Duku 
, Sive Makeleni , Mzuyanda Percival Mavuso & Moses Sipho Mkhomi
Issue: Vol.3 No.11 October 2022 Post COVID-19 Special Issue Article 17 pp.226-237
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2022sp31118 | Published online 3rd November 2022.
© 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
E-learning has become a standard dialect nationally and internationally, particularly during the COVID-19 context. During the lockdown period in South Africa, e-learning, which was experienced differently by different Higher Education Institutions and students, became one of the preferred ways students could access learning. Therefore, e-learning as a vehicle for quality education became a human rights issue in the Higher Education space. Consequently, literature seems to imply that lack of access to e-learning, internet laptops and smartphone connectivity and online gadgets may be an exclusionary learning factor for the majority of students. Underpinned by Engestrom Activity Theory, this qualitative study used telephonic assisted open-ended interviews to provide the four selected Bachelor of Education students with the opportunity to share their experiences on how they have experienced the use of e-learning in a South African university. It emerged from the data that even the students from the same institution had varied experiences in terms of e-learning. Furthermore, the findings revealed that students’ social realm, such as internet connectivity and lack of online gadgets such as laptops and smartphones influenced their e-learning. This study concludes that the students’ experiences suggest that the university should respond to the students’ contextual factors and make appropriate sustainable teaching and learning plans post-COVID-19 era.
Keywords: E-learning, Learning experiences, Diversity, Learning tools, Teaching and learning
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Prof. Ntombozuko Duku is currently the Deputy Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Fort Hare, South Africa. He holds a PhD in Education. His research focuses on Educational Leadership, Management and Policy, Inclusive Education and Teacher Education.
Dr. Sive Makeleni is currently a Lecturer and Head of School, the School of General and Continuing Education (SGCE) in East London Campus University of Fort Hare, South Africa. He holds a PhD in Education. His research focuses on Language Education, Early Childhood Development and Teacher Development.
Prof. Mzuyanda Percival Mavuso is currently an Associate Professor and Deputy Dean, faculty of Education University of Fort Hare, South Africa. He holds a PhD in Education. His research focuses on Educational Educational Leadership and management and Climate Change Education, Teacher Education.
Dr. Moses Sipho Mkhomi is currently a Lecturer and Coordinator of Postgraduate Studies at the School of General and Continuing Education (SGCE) in East London Campus, University of Fort Hare, South Africa. He holds a PhD in Education. His research focuses on Educational Leadership and Management, Peace Education, Ubuntu Pedagogy, Democracy in Education and Teacher Education.
Duku,N., Makeleni,S., Mavuso, M.P. & Mkhomi M.S. “Experiences of B. Ed Students on the use of E-Learning as a Vehicle to Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic ,” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 3, no.11 (2022):226-237. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2022sp31118
© 2022 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Publishers. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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