SLP – Research Questions, Variables, and Types of Data
SLP – Research Questions, Variables, and Types of Data
Research Question
- What are the implications of COVID-19 on higher learning?
First Article: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Online Learning in Higher Institutions of Education: A Survey of the Perceptions of Ghanaian International Students in China
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the education sectors of developed and developing economies adversely. Accordingly, since preventive measures require learners to avoid interactions to limit infection, educational institutions have forced students to stay at home and learn via the Internet. However, since the Internet is not a utility for many students, online learning has proven to be a challenge, especially during this critical period (Demuyakor, 2020). The purpose of this qualitative study is to evaluate the impact and limitations of digital learning in higher education institutions based in China, which was the epicenter of the pandemic. Due to the effects of COVID-19 on the education sector, the article attempts to understand the implications of online learning in one of the countries affected by the pandemic by focusing on a sample of international students from Ghana, a developing country.
The main research question explores the capacity of digital learning to gratify the educational needs of international students in China. In this respect, the study questions whether the current online learning platform employed in Beijing’s higher education institutions is capable of satisfying Ghanaian international students. With this exploratory question, the study relies on a qualitative methodology to understand whether online learning meets the respective sample. To determine the findings, the study used a purposive digital survey of the international students in question. The participants who pass selection from the popular interactive application, WeChat, undergo questioning on subjects, such as current level of knowledge regarding the pandemic, credibility and effectiveness of course content, and potential challenges derived from digital learning. The study discovered that the learners were satisfied with the online learning platforms used across various campuses and universities in Beijing.
Second Article: Closure of Universities Due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Impact on Education and Mental Health of Students and Academic Staff
The study, based on current responses to the pandemic, addresses its impact on higher education. In particular, the purpose of the study is to address the possible effect of COVID-19 on the mental aptitude and training of campus students. The research question, which is exploratory, focuses on the implications that the pandemic holds for higher education students. For example, the study questions the current approaches utilized by the educational sector to limit the spread of the virus. Specifically, it addresses the impacts of these interventions in the alleviation of mental illness or psychological ailments among campus and university students (Sahu, 2020). Aside from noting the current shift to digital teaching and learning, the study indicates the extent to which COVID-19 has influenced measures and approaches that focus on alleviating adverse conditions that tend to affect students’ mental stability, especially in restrictive situations.
Based on a meta-analysis of the literature from medical and education fields, the study provides several findings regarding the effect of the pandemic on mental capacity. Accordingly, one of these effects involves the incessant development of anxiety and stress (Sahu, 2020). Since the epidemic has led to the closure of schools across most countries, the lives of most students have been subject to significant disruptions. In addition, the current situation has led to considerable stress levels among other members of the higher education fraternity. Due to these impacts, the study claims that the learning aptitude and mental wellbeing of learners will exhibit adverse effects in the long-term (Sahu, 2020). Additionally, to establish the credibility of this claim, the study considers the implications on mental health that stem from the effects of the pandemic, such as travel restrictions and the unavailability of online learning platforms due to the limited distribution of the Internet. To this end, the study asserts that these intersecting factors may offer detrimental impacts on students.
References
Demuyakor, J. (2020). Coronavirus (COVID-19) and online learning in higher institutions of education: A survey of the perceptions of Ghanaian international students in China. Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies, 10(3), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.29333/ojcmt/8286
Sahu, P. (2020). Closure of universities due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Impact on education and mental health of students and academic staff. Cureus, 12(4), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.7541