University Students’ Online Learning Experiences in Context of COVID-19: Study in Greece

Abstract

Online teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic was a sudden experience for all students, including those studying at university. Therefore, this study aimed to provide evidence on university students’ online learning experiences in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. 24 Greek students participated, and their data were collected via semi-structured interviews. The findings indicated that the main advantages experienced were time-saving and the comfort of being at home, while the main perceived disadvantages regard technical problems (such as bad internet connectivity) and lack of practical training experiences. Students’ feelings were negative, in particular, at the beginning of the pandemic. Although communication collaboration with peers was experienced as effective, student-teacher communication-collaboration was described as a positive and negative experience at the same time. For the improvement of online education, students hope to have better university infrastructure, preparation, and training for tutors, as well as student training. Implications for educational policy and practice are discussed, accordingly.