Preliminary analysis on Diploma Students’ Satisfaction in Online Learning during the COVID- 19 pandemic: Sri Lanka Library Association

Abstract

This study aims to measure the satisfaction, successfulness and challenges faced by the Diploma students of Sri Lanka Library Association during the pandemic period. The survey was conducted using Google forms. Approximately 225 questionnaires were sent to the students via WhatsApp, and 194 (88.5%) responses were received. SPSS software use for the data analysis. The results showed that more than 50% of the students agreed to online education during the lockdown. Students indicated that online mode is secure their health (98%) during this lockdown than having face-to-face classes. The study indicated that 97(49.9%) students were highly satisfied with online teaching, and 36.5% were neutral. The majority of students (78.9%) used smart phones however, the usage of desktops, laptops, and tablets was not highly utilized (19%) for e-learning. Alternatpively, 41.8% tried to find notes through the web page and whatsApp groups, while 23.7% of students sought help from friends to recover the lessons. The challenges reported included not being able to clearly hear the lecture 88 (45.4%), expensive equipment 85(43.8%), poor internet connection 84(43.3%), difficulty in timely logging on 84(43.3%), and feeling of isolation while attending class 82(42.3%). It is recommended to enhance the practical effectiveness of the online course.