One university different modes of delivery: An analysis of lecturers’ teaching experiences in conducting ICT practical sessions at a rural Eastern Cape university during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

In this empirical paper, we analysed lecturers’ teaching experiences in practical sessions in ICT during the COVID-19 pandemic at a rural university. The reason for writing this paper is to provide new insights into existing literature in that although there are articles on teaching under the COVID-19 pandemic, this paper specifically examines how teaching ICT practical lessons was undertaken remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. A quantitative research methodology was utilised using closed-ended questionnaire as a data collection instrument. Sampling was done using a census sampling technique. The findings derived from this study were positive in that they revealed how a good majority of lecturers were able to use virtual learning environments for practical sessions in ICT lessons. The implications were that teaching ICT practical classes online could go on during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study concluded that the COVID-19 pandemic is a game-changer that should compel higher education institution to adjust to the new normal such as migrating from the traditional face-to-face classroom to the remote modes of teaching and learning. The study recommends that all lecturers at WSU be skilled in using practical ICT sessions for teaching all courses that require practical sessions.

Keywords

• online learning
• virtual learning environment
• practical session
• information and communication technology (ict)