Challenges of Learning Environments Experienced by Distance-Learning Higher Education Students in Ghana

Fuente: ERIC Institute of Education Sciences
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Main Author: Agyekum, Boadi
Format: Recurso educativo Open Access
Language:en
Published: 2023
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author Agyekum, Boadi
author_facet Agyekum, Boadi
Agyekum, Boadi
collection Education Resources Information Center
contents Challenges of Learning Environments Experienced by Distance-Learning Higher Education Students in Ghana Agyekum, Boadi Educational Environment Distance Education College Students Foreign Countries Blended Learning Well Being Sense of Community The study presented here investigated challenges of learning environments experienced by distance-learning (DL) higher education (HE) students in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The author interviewed students (n=24) in two DL centres, where they attended weekend face-to-face sessions. He asked them to share their personal experiences with respect to classrooms, learning facilities both inside and outside the classroom, and access to library support services. During each intensive one-on-one interview, which lasted 45-60 minutes, the author made audio-recordings and field notes for later analysis. The students' views were complemented with audio-recordings and field notes from staff interviews (n=4), each lasting 1-2 hours. The 28 participants in the study were recruited from two University of Ghana Learning Centres, Accra and Tema. Data collection covered the period from April 2018 to December 2019. The field notes derived from all participant interviews were transcribed, coded, categorised and analysed using NVivo 10. Particular attention was paid to students' educational and social well-being, and their "sense of place." Findings include students' struggle with poor infrastructure conditions, and most reported lack of access to power sources in the classrooms, lack of a cafeteria, IT labs, library space, a student hub, and support services as the most significant barriers to experiencing a meaningful HE as DLs. Participants stressed the importance of infrastructural support and services tailored towards DLs' needs, with an emphasis on DL HE students' physical, social and psychological well-being.
format Recurso educativo Open Access
id eric_EJ1380709
institution ERIC Institute of Education Sciences
language en
publishDate 2023
record_format eric
spellingShingle Challenges of Learning Environments Experienced by Distance-Learning Higher Education Students in Ghana
Agyekum, Boadi
Educational Environment
Distance Education
College Students
Foreign Countries
Blended Learning
Well Being
Sense of Community
Challenges of Learning Environments Experienced by Distance-Learning Higher Education Students in Ghana Agyekum, Boadi Educational Environment Distance Education College Students Foreign Countries Blended Learning Well Being Sense of Community The study presented here investigated challenges of learning environments experienced by distance-learning (DL) higher education (HE) students in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The author interviewed students (n=24) in two DL centres, where they attended weekend face-to-face sessions. He asked them to share their personal experiences with respect to classrooms, learning facilities both inside and outside the classroom, and access to library support services. During each intensive one-on-one interview, which lasted 45-60 minutes, the author made audio-recordings and field notes for later analysis. The students' views were complemented with audio-recordings and field notes from staff interviews (n=4), each lasting 1-2 hours. The 28 participants in the study were recruited from two University of Ghana Learning Centres, Accra and Tema. Data collection covered the period from April 2018 to December 2019. The field notes derived from all participant interviews were transcribed, coded, categorised and analysed using NVivo 10. Particular attention was paid to students' educational and social well-being, and their "sense of place." Findings include students' struggle with poor infrastructure conditions, and most reported lack of access to power sources in the classrooms, lack of a cafeteria, IT labs, library space, a student hub, and support services as the most significant barriers to experiencing a meaningful HE as DLs. Participants stressed the importance of infrastructural support and services tailored towards DLs' needs, with an emphasis on DL HE students' physical, social and psychological well-being.
title Challenges of Learning Environments Experienced by Distance-Learning Higher Education Students in Ghana
topic Educational Environment
Distance Education
College Students
Foreign Countries
Blended Learning
Well Being
Sense of Community
url https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1380709