Factors influencing the preference of distance learners to study through online during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The teaching-learning system in India changed significantly during the COVID 19 pandemic situation. Educational institutions adopted blended learning approaches for effective teaching and used digital technologies to deliver academic programs. Online learning during pandemic situations helps learners learn the necessary skills to meet the need for future jobs conveniently and quickly. Graduates of vocational programs will have to play a crucial role in economic recovery. The study's objectives were to examine to what extent the open and distance learning students of IGNOU had prior digital skills, preferred, used digital platforms for study through online mode during the lockdown. A survey of vocational students studying through distance mode from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), India was conducted to identify the reasons for their preferences to study through online mode rather than traditional distance learning mode during the lockdown. Researchers identified nine reasons based on the literature review for students' preferences to learn through online mode. The responses to nine sub-questions were on a five-point scale, i.e., Strongly agree (1), agree (2), can't say (3), disagree (4), and strongly disagree (5). The study was limited to vocational distance learners. Descriptive statistical methods like ANOVA, Chi-square, and t-test were applied to test the hypothesis. The results of ANOVA and Chi-square revealed that they value all the reasons equally, thereby rejecting the null hypothesis. The implication of the study is to adopt a blended learning approach for offering future distance learning programs