An Analysis of drawbacks in online teaching and feasible solutions : a case study of Anuradhapura education zone

Abstract

Online education is important because it provides accessibility, flexibility, safe learning during pandemics, and reaching a broader audience with cost-effectiveness. At present, there is very little research on Sri Lankan teacher’s difficulties towards online teaching. Therefore, this study was initiated to provide scientific results about Sri Lankan teachers’ difficulties towards online teaching. The Anuradhapura education zone is selected for this study, since it contains a lot of remote areas and schools. This study was conducted based on a questionnaire survey design. Altogether 209 teachers in Anuradhapura Education Zone were surveyed. The questionnaire in this research was used basically to identify the difficulties and feasible solutions of online teaching in Anuradhapura Education Zone. The demographic factors were analyzed and presented using descriptive statistical methods. Multinomial Logistic Regression Model & Factor Analysis were used as advanced statistical methods. Multinomial Logistic Regression Model was used to model the relationship between Mean Barrier Level and identified explanatory variables. Factor Analysis was used to identify common factors for the observed set of difficulties. Study shows that “monthly internet bill”, “number of classes per week”, “number of students in a class” & “internet connection type” can be considered as significantly associated explanatory variables with Mean Barrier Level in the Multinomial Logistic Regression Model. Also findings of this study show that, “lack of attractive teaching & assessment methods” as the most important common barrier. Next important common barriers are “lack of knowledge & infrastructures” & “surround interruptions”. The least important common barrier is the “consume more time”. Therefore educators should implement interactive teaching methods, online assessment platforms that can automatically grade assignments & government should provide training, discounted internet packages, high-speed broadband infrastructure, workshops, webinars, or tutorials to help educators to enhance successful online education.