Online learning challenges: students’ vision

Abstract

The article analyzes circumstances under which most educational institutions in Ukraine have found themselves with the spread of Covid-19 where teachers and students had to quickly adjust to not quite conventional, sometimes stressful learning environment. The results of the analysis of the survey conducted among 150 1st and 2nd year students majoring in sciences at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv have been presented. Having considered the findings of the survey, the advantages and disadvantages of online learning, as well as recommendations both for the teachers and students with the view to make it more effective have been elucidated. There have been outlined the following advantages of online learning: it is less time consuming; it allows flexible time and place management; it improves students’ technical skills; it makes students more self-disciplined; it is less pricy than traditional education; it is more friendly for the students’ health. Although it has been proven that online learning has its disadvantages, among which: lack of vital social contacts and face-to-face communication with peers; preventing students from academic dishonesty; concentrating attention on the subject of studying and ignoring distractions; procrastination; teachers being sometimes unfamiliar with advanced internet technologies; lack of motivating methods and activities. In this respect authentic activities targeted at immersion occured to demonstrate many benefits within online learning environment as they motivate students through real life situations and solving problems. On the basis of literature review of recent research, key characteristics of authentic activities have been defined. The recommendations for both the students as active participants of the learning process and the teachers as organizers and moderators of this process have been outlined. The conclusion was made that teachers in the first place have a chance to change the priorities and make the studying process more exciting, motivating and productive.