Usage and Challenges of E-Learning during The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Study Of WhatsApp And Zoom

Abstract

This study examined e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic with focus on the use of Whatsapp and Zoom. The main objective of the study was to examine influence of the use of WhatsApp and Zoom for e-learning on postgraduate students’ academic activities in Rivers State University, Port Harcourt. The study was guided by the technological determinism theory. The descriptive survey research design was adopted in the study, while purposive sampling technique was used to identify 351 postgraduate students of Rivers State University that utilised the e-learning method during the period of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents. Findings of the study showed that the use of WhatsApp and Zoom for e-learning did not generate better understanding of the lectures being taught when compared to the traditional classroom teaching method. Also, findings showed that some of the challenges faced by the students in utilising the WhatsApp and Zoom platforms for e-learning were distractions from the environment, Internet failure and the challenge of meeting up with data expenses. The study recommended that lecturers should ensure that class sessions are interactive and participatory. Also, the government should provide free Internet access to students in tertiary institutions. This would help them have access to more resource materials for their academic activities.