Abstract:

Prior to 2021, institutions of higher learning gradually moved to digital and online learning. However, in response to the worldwide outbreak of the COVID 19 pandemic, along with all educational institutions in South Africa, the move to online learning was accelerated and became the ‘new norm’. In 2022, after the lifting of restrictions, contact universities moved from the online/digital teaching and assessment learning model to a hybrid model. The proposed hybrid model included contact (face-to-face lectures) and limited online modes of delivery. To gauge the perceptions of students regarding the challenges and preferences related to online teaching and learning, the views of 3306 students were collected in an online survey at one contact university. An online survey instrument was developed by a task team at the institution and deployed online using Survey Monkey. Key findings from the data revealed that most students preferred the flexibility offered by learning and being assessed through an online e-leaning platform. Students indicated they possessed the required skills to continue with online learning and assessment and would prefer continuous assessment than returning to the traditional assessment regime. The recommendation emanating from this study is that institutions of higher learning adopt a hybrid approach to teaching and learning, however more research is needed on its impact on quality learning and student throughput and drop-out rates.

Keywords:

Digital Learning, online assessment, student throughput, quality of learning.