Staff Approaches Towards Electronic Learning for Palestinian Higher Education Institutions During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analytical Descriptive Study

Abstract

Objectives: This research aims to identify the trends of teaching staff towards e-learning in Palestinian higher education institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic, record their responses towards it, measure the quality of e-learning outcomes from their perspective, and anticipate future visions and mechanisms for developing this type of learning to meet their needs and expectations. Methods:  The research adopted an analytical descriptive approach, which was deemed suitable for the problem at hand. Two tools, namely interviews and questionnaires, were utilized. The interviews targeted a sample of academic staff from various Palestinian universities, while the questionnaires were distributed among 214 academic staff members who were involved in the e-learning experiment during the pandemic, representing seven universities.  Results: Notable findings indicated that staff members encountered numerous difficulties with e-learning, including the significant effort and time it required, as well as psychological and personal barriers. However, some positive aspects of e-learning emerged, such as the ability to record lectures for students to review at their convenience. Additionally, the study found that the quality of e-learning was lower compared to face-to-face learning. Conclusions: The study provides several recommendations, with the most important one being that each Palestinian higher education institution should develop its own strategy encompassing a detailed and clear plan for e-learning during emergency situations.