Students’ Reflection on Online Distance Learning: Advantages, Disadvantages, Recommendations

Abstract

The paper presents the results of research dealing with online distance instruction in the Czech Republic. It particularly focuses on students’ feedback, detecting advantages, disadvantages, and recommendations when teaching in this manner. The main research objective was to (1) discover how students assess their learning in online distance courses, (2) consider the collected experience and opinions, and (3) reflect them into recommendations for further teacher and learner training in how to exploit online distance instruction efficiently. First, the process of online distance instruction in the Czech Republic was described and requirements were set which should be applied when designing and conducting online distance courses. Then, feedback from 272 respondents, students of upper secondary and higher education institutions, was collected. Students reflected on 64 courses which received positive or negative assessment. Advantages, disadvantages, and recommendations detected in both groups of courses were thought. Respondents’ experience and opinions were monitored via a questionnaire consisting of eight open-answer items. Finally, the process of online distance learning was considered from the view of the collected data. Results proved that, as expected, even deeper teacher training is required. Main problems were detected in (1) the low level of teacher competency in this field in general, (2) time management, and (3) lack of technical support to learners. However, the fact that the necessity of learners’ competency in online distance learning must be also developed was mentioned by a few respondents.