THE EFFECT OF COVID19 INDUCED SCHOOLS' LOCKDOWN ON TEACHING OF BIOLOGY IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ONDO STATE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background Of the Study

COVID-19 pandemic is a global disaster which has continued affecting humanity in all perspectives. This life-threatening virus took millions of lives already and enforced global closure in most activities of the world. The outbreak enforces people to adjust their accustomed and normal way of living into a whole new unfamiliar situation of day-to-day life without any cautionary with the unique and unusual spreading nature of the virus countries in the world take unprecedented measures that never seen before. This measure includes stay-at-home order, restriction of traveling and social gathering, closing of schools, workplace, religious places, restaurant &bars, and other areas. However, the pandemic makes the world to see the potential benefits of internet and became fully reliant on the service. Since then, most of the world activities such as schools, working places, healthcare centers, financial institutions and other sectors relied on the internet to continue their basic operation and give service for the communities. According to UN (2020) report on the assessment of the pandemic internet was not only creating a workable system in delivering basic needs of human lives, but it enables the society to communicate and support each other in this exceptionally hard time. Particularly for the educational system internet was the system by making E-learning possible in this hard time. The concept of distance education first started in the mid of 19th century in united states where some professors started to meet with their corresponding students through the US postal service to transfer their teaching and instruction. After the invention of television, the first televised teaching-learning practice started in 1953 in the United States. At the time, the channel broadcast several courses from 5 to 13 hours per week. Most of the learners were working during the daytime and they took the courses in the evening. The major revolution in distance learning was created after the invention of computer and predominantly the internet made tremendous impact on the overall educational system. The first institutions which started E-learning practice in the world were the University of Phoenix for Bachelor and master’s degree Onlineschools.org (2021). As defined by Khan (2005, p.12) E-learning, “an innovative approach for delivering welldesigned, learner centered, interactive, and facilitated learning environment to everyone, anyplace, anytime by utilizing the attributes and resources of various digital technologies along with other forms of e-learning materials suited for open, flexible, and distributed learning environment”.  Through the years with the rapid advancement of information and communication technologies E-learning become more feasible technologically, economically, and operationally. Institutions can reduce their financial constraints related with infrastructure for classroom, office, cafeterias, dorms, and libraries. Furthermore, E-learning offers a tremendous opportunity for learners throughout the world by getting education from anywhere in any time by creating a E-learning environment. According to the description of Dziuban, Picciano, Graham, and Moskal (2016) with the context of USA the evolution of E-learning has four main chapters. The first in 1990s internet driven distance learning, the second from 2000-2007 increasing use of LMS (Learning management system), 2008-2012 growth of MOOCs (massive open online courses), in the fourth stage E-learning overtaken enrolment over   the traditional one in higher educational system. As per the classification of Raja, R & Nagasubramani, P (2018) technology can be used in educational system in four major areas, as a part of educational curriculum, as instructional delivery system, as an assisting tool for instructions and finally as an enhancing tool for the entire learning system. A report suggests that in US in 2019 around 18.66 billion dollars was invested in educational investment (EDTECH). According to the discussion Cathy Li & Farah Lalani (2020) on economic forum of in the next 5 years the investment in online education will reach around 350 billion dollars. However, many nations fail to fully utilize this potentially useful resource to modernize their educational system which will help in increasing reachability of education for the society and improve quality of education. Most developing nations prioritize reachability of education for their society as their first developmental strategy. But still many countries cannot reach to this strategic goal due to the costly infrastructure and human resource requirements of the educational systems. Virtual method of learning gives solution for this problem by creating E-learning environment with a minimum cost compared to the traditional one (Sadia,et al., 2021,p.21). Although with all the advantages of E-learning, the requirements are more complicated regarding the resource and skills needed unlike the traditional schooling system which uses a particular resource and sets of skills from the school, teachers, and students’ perspectives.

The Ondo State case was the same, higher educational institutions in Ondo State forced by the pandemics to employ virtual teaching-learning practice for the first time ever. The first COVID-19 case in Ondo State was reported in March 2020 and subsequently on April 15, 2020, the Ondo State government declared a state of emergency, which included closing of schools, banning public gatherings, and requiring most employees to work from home.

As of April 2020, most of schools in Ondo State were closed and suspended education delivery through conventional or face-to-face mode. For elementary and secondary school’s education start through broadcasting of different media, but higher learning institutions stopped for a while until the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MOSHE) gave directions to resume learning using online for post-graduate programs. Subsequently, some governmental and private institutions have started giving education using virtual platform of learning. For most of the institutions this practice was totally new, and it was very difficult transition for all the stakeholders which were involved in the process. E-learning in Ondo State higher learning institutions is not a common practice before COVID-19. Most institutions continue using teaching-learning process for almost three semesters. Although it is a good start for higher learning institutions to use E-learning but still the challenges are visible in many ways starting from infrastructure, policy, capacity, professionalism, experience, readiness of the educational system. My inspiration to study this topic comes from my experience as a student through E-learning during the pandemic time. Since E-learning is a new experience of learning which needs a proper preparation and readiness in many sectors before entering the implementation phase. However, the pandemic creates unusual circumstance for all the stakeholders involved in the education sector and eventually enforces all parties of the education system to dive into E-learning practice without any proper preparation. As a result, there were various challenges such as internet connection, power stability, virtual teaching approach, assessments, and evaluation technique. It has also given opportunities first by making things possible to continue education in this hard time, easy accessibility of education. As a student of project management, I tried to identify the problem and the potential opportunity of a specific event, issue, and scenario and analyze the root causes of the problem and design alternative solution to the problems to utilize the opportunities. Therefore, this study examined the challenges and opportunities of virtual teaching- learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

1.2. Statement Of the Problem

The Continues advancement of technology and increased accessibility of internet globally has made online education an essential part of higher learning education system Li, C., & Irby, (2008 P.449-458). Moreover, with the increased concern over the affordability of education globally over the years, caused increasing demand of E-learning by institutions and students globally (Limperos. et al, 2015 P. 83). Recently Technology has become an integral part of educational system. According to Shailendra et.al,.(2018,P.253) The changes in educational delivery modes have been rapid and transformational, this change creates a very dynamic educational environment and generate a massive interest among researchers, educators, administrators, policymakers, publishers, and businesses.

The education sector was one of the areas globally affected by the pandemic. Number of educational institutions in the world changes their schooling system to E-learning (online learning) during these crises. According to UN report on Policy Brief Education during covid-19 and beyond in (2020) around 1.6 billion students have stopped learning using the conventional way globally. This figure estimated around 94% of the overall students’ population in the world. Similarly, the report stated that, COVID-19 has created the greatest interruption of educational system in the history of the world. The only possible option to continue education through controlling spreading of the virus was using E-learning. Countries which have the infrastructure and experience smoothly transformed their way of teaching into Virtual. Several countries started to give the necessary support by encouraging schools, teachers, and students to use E-learning and continue the educational system in the time of pandemic UNESCO (2020). However, the transition was not easy for all nations in the world since most developing countries do not have the infrastructure and experience of using E-learning. The requirement of online learning is completely different from traditional one. It needs different approach and preparation for the entire stakeholder involved in the educational sector, starting from the nation’s infrastructure, school’s ICT infrastructure, teachers online teaching experience, student’s psychological readiness and other related factors.

The Ondo State government has a growing interest and awareness over the use of Elearning in higher learning institutions. According to A.Tadesse (2015,P.4-8) Ondo State higher learning Institutions used ICT for tasks such as course management system, library digitalization and student management systems. E-learning in Ondo State was and is in its early stage even before the pandemic. When we investigate the history of E-learning in general the first initiative was taken by the partnership between Addis Ababa University, Curtin University of Technology and African Virtual University in 2003 the practice was a good start at the time, but it only lasts for 5 years and ended up only graduating 190 students. A year later in 2009 Adama Science and Technology University (ASTU) started to use Learning management system called MOODLE to give education using online method. After 6 years more than 72 courses were given using this system and more than 5000 students and 108 instructors involved in the process Ketema.T & Nirmala.M., (2015,P. 155-162). Eventually other higher learning institutions in Ondo State started to use E-learning to some extent, but still counting E-learning as a new form of teaching and learning process was very challenging and it impacted on the sustainability of using E-learning. according to Beyene (2006, 2010). Similarly, Yonas (2019) stressed that the obvious challenges facing E-learning in Ondo State are the high cost of using internet in the country, the ICT policy, cultural perspective, existence of complex network of actors in the educational sector and low-level of IT diffusion as compared to higher education institutions of developed nations. Additionally, Beyene.B (2006,2010) mentioned that the challenges of E-learning are not only related to the technological and resource issue, but he also stressed that There is no clear understanding of the problem from all the stakeholder in the education system about the learning system in general this result the ineffective utilization of E-learning system and impact on the sustainability of using E-learning in Ondo State higher learning institutions.

The Covid -19 pandemic has changed all the hesitation and reluctance by enforcing the closure of school globally. Even if COVID-19 brought a great threat to humanity but it still enables the educational institutions to think and to see the Potential of E-learning in the educational system. However, some believe that emergency migration of remote teaching and learning practice without any proper training, mental readiness and preparation can result in poor educational quality and poor user experience for the future use of E-learning. But still others think this change can be the starting point of a new “HYBRID” model of educational system which will solve the limitation of traditional learning practice (Cathy.L & Farah.L, 2020). The outbreak forced some higher learning institutions in Ondo State to change their teaching method into virtual in a very short period without any proper preparation and readiness in all aspects.

This situation creates many challenges on the learning process, but still creates an opportunity to continue schooling and finish the academic year in this very challenging time. nevertheless, this new practice of learning needs to have a proper study on the challenges faced during the learning process from the students and instructor’s side. furthermore, the opportunity of E-learning must be identified properly for the future use in higher learning institutions. Therefore, this study will assess the main challenges of virtual teaching and learning process in the time of pandemic from students and instructor’s perspective. Additionally, the research will examine the potential opportunities of using E-learning in

Ondo State higher learning institutions focusing on post-graduate programs at Ondo State. Furthermore, the research will examine the experiences of instructors and students on using E-learning. This study can be used as an input for different educational stakeholders and researchers about E-learning experience in higher learning institution during the pandemic, in return it will identify what was the main challenges and opportunities of using E-learning.

1.3. Research Questions

• What does the existing practice of E-learning look like?
• What are the challenges faced by instructors and students during virtual teaching and learning practice at Ondo State in the time of COVID-19 pandemic?
• What are the prospects of E-learning for the future in Ondo State higher learning institutions?

1.4. Objective Of the Study

1.4.1. Major Objective

 To explore the challenges and opportunities of E-learning during COVID-19 Pandemic and beyond at Ondo State.

 

1.4.2. Specific Objectives

The specific objectives of this study are:

• To understand the existing practice of E-learning at Ondo State during the pandemic.
• To identify the challenges faced by instructors and students during Virtual teaching and learning process in the time of pandemic.
• To explore the prospects of E-learning for the future use in Ondo State higher learning institutions.

1.5. Significance of the Study

The educational system has already entered a new era with the rise of technological innovation and surge of internet accessibility throughout the world. Being physically present in a classroom is not the only learning option anymore. Most developing nation already involved E-learning in their educational system and conducts many studies over the challenges and opportunities faced during virtual class. E-learning is not common practice in Ondo State higher learning institutions before the pandemic and there is no clear understanding over the challenge and opportunities of E-learning. COVID-19 forced the educational system to go to virtual teaching learning practice without any proper preparation in every aspect. Even though the move is a good opening for the educational system in general but still needs to identify the challenges faced during the implementation of virtual class in this pandemic period also proper opportunities needs to be identified accordingly. This study will explore E-learning practices during the pandemic, identify the challenges and opportunities of E-learning, also will explore the experience of students and instructors during E-learning class.  The study will also give concert findings on what were the challenges of using E-learning as the teaching learning approach or means of delivering mechanisms as institute and what are the potentials opportunities of E-learning for the future. In addition to this, it will make the students, teachers, and educational stakeholders to be aware of the challenges and prospects of E-learning in higher learning institutes. Similarly, since E-learning is a new approach of learning for higher learning institutions in Ondo State, there are few studies conducted over E-learning this study will fill the research Gaps around E-learning practices. Furthermore, this research can serve as an input for policy makers in the future use of E-learning.

1.6. Scope And Limitations of The Study

1.6.1. Scope of the Study

The purpose of the study mainly focuses on the challenges and opportunities of E-learning in higher learning institutions during the pandemic and beyond in case of Ondo State school of graduate. The research is a survey research design. Since the pandemic still not controlled the data collection method will involve survey questioners using online google form. The research categorizes the population into two groups which includes students Batch of 2012A who took virtual class with the sample size of 224, 17 instructors who give virtual class during the pandemic. The research will take place in Ondo State school of graduate.

1.6.2. Limitations of the study

Since the pandemic is still a major treat for the society it has majorly impacted the study data collection process and the research design. First the study was planned to use different data collection method like questioners, interview, and observation. Unfortunately, the pandemic forced to use only survey online questioner using google form This constraint leads to limitations of employing diverse methods of data collection that have significant contribution for validity and reliability of the result of the study.  Similarly, the study sampling technique was another limitation of the research since different courses have different teaching and learning approach in this case stratified sampling technique was more suitable but instead Simple random sampling technique was used. Additionally, time constraint was also one of the limitations, limited responsiveness of the respondents was also observed throughout the data collection process and lastly the overall impact of Covid-19 in the educational world has also influenced seriously on the researcher and respondents.

THE EFFECT OF COVID19 INDUCED SCHOOLS' LOCKDOWN ON TEACHING OF BIOLOGY IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ONDO STATE

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