See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/363586814

A Study Of Challenges Faced By E-Learning Faculty In Paksitan

Article in The Journal of Positive Psychology · September 2022

CITATIONS READS
0 94

3 authors, including:

Dawood Ahmad Sidra Rizwan

The University of Faisalabad Allama Iqbal Open University
10 PUBLICATIONS 267 CITATIONS 6 PUBLICATIONS 3 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Reader to Leader View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Dawood Ahmad on 16 September 2022.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

Journal of Positive School Psychology http://journalppw.com
2022, Vol. 6, No. 8, 9914-9923

A Study Of Challenges Faced By E-Learning Faculty

In Paksitan
*Dr. Dawood Ahmad , **Dr. Sidra Rizwan , ***Dr. Maqsood Ahmad

*Assistant Professor, Department of Education, Sarhad University of Information & Technology, Peshawar, KPK,
Pakistan.
** Assistant Professor, Secondary Teacher Education Department, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad,
Pakistan.
*** Professor, Sandal College, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Abstract

In the most developing countries, e-learning was not preferred as a tool for teaching and learning process.
However, the pandemic of COVID-19 forced institutions and teachers to utilize e-learning as a mode for
education to continue process of teaching and learning. This study appraised university faculty members'
observations, identified their experiences, and challenges of e-learning during the COVID- 19. It also
explored factors which impede the acceptance and use of e-learning as a device teaching at higher education
level. Data were collected using an electronic questionnaire for exploring challenges faced by e-learning
faculty. It was found that 44% of the faculty members who participated in the study were assistant
professors. More than 30% faculty members were from department of Computer Sciences. The significant
findings of the study were that more and more training facilities for the faculty and students should be
arranged on campus. Infrastructure of e-learning environment needs to be up-dated continuously and better
incentives for the faulty members should be given by the employer. The research study showed that the
challenges were overcome by the faculty members through the e- learning way of teaching and learning at
higher education level. Thus, it would be a successful strategy for the promulgation of e-learning and utilize
technology as a very positive step towards educational development and change.

Keywords: E-learning, digital learning, distance learning, Covid-19.

Introduction importantly in teaching and learning, this new

method of teaching and offers many advantages
E-learning may be defined as the process of which consist of supporting distance and online
learning with the support of digital electronic learning.
tools, media and gadgets (Basak et al., 2018). In The term e- learning is a modern one in
the human history of teaching and learning, it has its nature as it has been coined two decades ago
mainly been done through face to face or by (since 1999) in the fields of computer sciences
listening to people with scholarship and listening and technologies devoted to teaching (Ubell,
to those who have read and written a lot of books 2000). Romiszowski (2003) defines e-learning
and to observe them and then copying them. Due that it is a form of teaching and learning which
to rapid growth and development in science and covers on-line and off-line forms of learning and
technology in many areas of education, most teaching focusing individual, group and
 9915 Journal of Positive School Psychology

collaborative activities. E- Learning is a new idea the employees take the course without waiting for
and concept of teaching and learning for most of new class mates or new group formation as it is
the faculty members. E-learning consists of all in face-to-face classes (Ruiz, 2006). Thus, it is
forms of electronically teaching and learning with worth mentioning here that effectiveness of e-
the help of technology that involves transferring learning forms for teaching a wide range of
course contents and materials online knowledge and skills. Every person has its own
electronically and digitally (Broadbent, 2002). learning way and style that characterizes a system
The information and communication of perceiving and understanding its own learning
technology (ICT) also serves as a specific media with the available educational material. There are
to implement the learning process. The form of certain people who have the capacity of
education got its popularity due to the fact as it perceiving educational material in the classroom
has a lot of un-doubtable benefits over the setting. However, researches show that at least
conventional ways of teaching and learning 80% of the learners can effectively perceive
(Radović-Marković, 2010). The first thing is that learning material in any form or in any mode of
there is no condition of face to face interaction teaching. This is evident that majority of learners
and large number of people to gather at a place are capable to learn effectively in electronic
which is also a very beneficial at the times of format of teaching and learning.
pandemics like covid-19 as we have experienced The development in science and
it. It is also beneficial for large scale technology and ICT has paved the way for
organizations with different branches institutions to participate in online social
geographically. networks to e-learning using LMS and web 2.0.
The usage of e-learning technology also These are new tools of learning by using ICT,
reduces the cost of courses, making and arranging which are flexible and able to customize. For
classrooms, a huge amount of staff salaries, travel example, LMS is used for delivering, tracking
costs, utilities etc. The organizations which have and managing education, used for focusing
promulgated e- learning exhibits that the total teaching and learning. It manages and deals with
amount of training is drastically reduced (Klein, a range of educational records to software for the
Ware, 2003). The other advantage of e-learning is effective distribution of different courses on the
that there are opportunities for the people to study internet. A learning content management system
conveniently at their own preferred time and (LCMS) is on the other hand, software which
place. focuses on the content of authoring (content
Whereas with traditional forms of objective which can be reusable and curriculum).
teaching and learning some learners are not able Technology is playing its important role
to attend the classes due to some work, now-a-days to tackle with the COVID-19 health
assignments; it is very important and for a crisis and learning at the same time. The sudden
successful and better performance. This provides situation to do work at a distance, home learning,
institutional challenges that are why home schooling and a great increase in online
organizations are preferring and implementing e- learning and distance work increased the demand
learning which generally face to face learning of e-learning. Few of these changes will remain
lacks. in use and continue beyond this pandemic
In addition to it, it is worth mentioning to (Antipova, 2021). The one main trend of 2020 in
note here that the process of e- learning may be education was an urge requirement for the
continuous. That means if there are new courses implementation of all the major aspects of
being offered or new training material available, distance learning (Radha et al., 2020).
Dr. Dawood Ahmad 9916

The crisis of pandemic covid-19 has technology and the provision of support for new
caused an enormous shock in the history of world infrastructure and set up. The faculty is required
educational systems. It has also changed the lives to lead time to learn new technological and
of billions of school going children throughout computer skills to boost up their motivation and
the world. The closures of educational undertake important work and start using new
institutions and schools affected 94% of the tools even if there is benefit for the organization.
educated population throughout the world and There is great need to change
people involved in it got affected enormously. institutional ethos and benefits to the faculty
One problem in applying LMS in any members for their efforts to enhance teaching and
educational institution involves in making learning which will definitely be of beneficial for
changes in the working process which is different the institutions financially. This may also include
than conventional teaching in the way of the training and retraining of faculty members to
planning, designing of curriculum and in the utilize and enhance their IT skills to ensure that
execution of courses that require the usage of e-learning infrastructure of the institute is
technology by the faculty member (Collis & Van equipped with skilled and trained staff.
der Wende, 2002). It also suggests that few
faculty members may be lacking motivational Objectives of the study
elements in their personality, skills to complete
the tasks by adopting new tools and techniques The objectives of the study were to:
even if there are benefits to the institution, staff 1. explore the challenges faced by e-
and students (Collis & Van der Wende, 2002). learning faculty members
The little usage of LMS by the faculty members 2. find out remedies of the challenges faced
also prove a challenge to some of the faculty by e- learning faculty members
members. 3. explore improvements in teaching by e-
However, in 2020 the educational learning faculty members
institutions encountered the issue of rapid and
effective reorganization of the entire system and Research questions
process of teaching and learning. Many The following research questions were designed
educational institutes were reluctant to switch by keeping in view the objectives of the study:
over from conventional pedagogical approach to 1. What are the challenges faced by e-
online teaching and learning (Dhawan, 2020). learning faculty members?
This was a basic requirement for the proper 2. What are remedies of the challenges
functioning of the education system. It is worth faced by e- learning faculty members?
mentioning here that the drawbacks of e-learning 3. Which improvements have been
include technical components like internet, achieved by e –learning faculty
computer skills and the availability of equipment members?
(Aung, Khaing, 2015).
Traditionally, the faculty members are Methodology
personally held accountable and responsible for The aim of the study was to find out challenges
their lectures’ planning and execution of course faced by e-learning faculty members in Pakistan
materials but here the institutions are required to during COVID-19 pandemic and suggest
have the direct participation and involvement by remedies for the future e-leaners and teachers.
the external course developers. A good incentive The study was completed after getting responses
should be offered to buy and set up new which were collected through an online survey
 9917 Journal of Positive School Psychology

distributed via Google forms through social study, importance and significance of the study
media like Facebook, WhatsApp and by emails was also shared so as to encourage the
from different faculty members working in cooperation in the study by the respondents.
different departments in public and private
universities of Pakistan. The sample comprised Pilot study
165 respondents (male75 and female 90).
Most of the faculty members were not Pilot study was done on 10 faculty members
having experience of teaching online or through teaching e-learning classes. The modification,
changes and corrections were done to make sure
e-learning. It is also important to mention here
that only teaching was done through online the clarification of all the questions. A reliability
classes whereas the examinations were managed test was also done for testing the reliability of the
by face to face in the institutions’ premises. questionnaire.

Data Management
Procedures of data collection
The collected data were analyzed by using SPSS
A questionnaire was designed on Google forms (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version
and an invitation link was shared with the 20.0.
respondents via email and on social media such
as WhatsApp, Facebook. Reminders for the
response were also sent after ten days. A covering Data Analysis
letter explaining the purpose of the research

Table: 1 Gender wise Distribution

Frequency Percent

Male 75 45.5

Female 90 54.5

Total 165 100.0

Table 1 shows that in total 165 faculty members (90 female and 75 male) participated in this research study.

Frequency Percent

Lecturer 44 26.7

Assistant Professor 74 44.8

Dr. Dawood Ahmad 9918

Associate Professor 32 19.4

Professor 15 9.1

Total 165 100.0

Table 2 depicts that the majority of the faculty members were assistant professors who participated in this
study.

Table: 3 Departments

Frequency
Percent

Education 35 21.2

English 34 20.6

Computer Science 50 30.3

Business_ Administration 31 18.8

Biology 15 9.1

Total 165 100.0

Table 3 shows that majority of faculty members who participated in the study were from Computer Science
department and the faculty members from department of Biology were least in number.

Table: 4 Experience

Experience in Years Frequency Percent

0-5 50 30.3

6-10 49 29.7

11-15 31 18.8

16-20 35 21.2

Total 165 100.0

 9919 Journal of Positive School Psychology

The table 4 expresses that the faculty members who participated in this research study were having 5 years
or less teaching experience.

Table: 5 Descriptive Statistics

Variable N Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation

Gender 165 1.00 2.00 1.5455 .49945

Designation 165 1.00 4.00 2.1091 .90404

Department 165 1.00 7.00 3.4121 1.84783

Years of experience 165 1.00 4.00 2.3091 1.11868

Lack of training 165 2.00 5.00 4.0606 1.15662

Lack of technical support 165 2.00 5.00 4.2303 1.14564

Lack of infrastructure 165 2.00 5.00 4.5394 .89372

Freedom of speech 165 2.00 5.00 4.1758 1.19425

Difficult to create natural

165 2.00 5.00 3.5212 1.20764
environment

Financial packages 165 2.00 5.00 2.9333 1.17460

More training 165 2.00 5.00 3.2000 1.17494

Separate sessions 165 2.00 5.00 4.5394 .89372

Regular maintenance 165 2.00 5.00 3.9091 1.38290

Students should have 165 2.00 5.00 3.9091 1.38290

Work load of faculty 165 2.00 5.00 3.7636 1.18368

English language courses 165 2.00 5.00 2.9333 1.17460

Orientation of new faculty 165 2.00 5.00 4.1697 1.17714

Faculty suggestions 165 2.00 5.00 2.7333 1.20027

Online resources 165 2.00 5.00 3.3333 1.34950

Dr. Dawood Ahmad 9920

Table 5 shows the descriptive statistics in details and the responses of the faculty members with mean and
standard deviation respectively.

Objective 1.

Table: 6 Descriptive Statistics

Statement N Mean Std.

Deviation

Lack of training facilities by the employer 165 4.0606 1.15662

Lack of technical support by the employer 165 4.2303 1.14564

Lack of infrastructure 165 4.5394 .89372

Freedom of speech during the lectures 165 4.1758 1.19425

Difficult to create natural environment during lecture 165 3.5212 1.20764

The table 6 depicts objective wise analysis of each statement with the mean and S.D of each statement.

Objective 2.

Table: 7 Descriptive Statistics

Statement N Mean Std.

Deviation

Financial packages of e- learning faculty should be improved 165 2.9333 1.17460

More training related to ICT should be given to e-learning faculty 165 3.2000 1.17494

Separate training sessions should be for students and teachers 165 4.5394 .89372

Regular maintenance of technical equipment required 165 3.9091 1.38290

Students should have access to e-learning faculty by email 165 3.9091 1.38290
 9921 Journal of Positive School Psychology

The table 7 depicts second objective and analysis of each statement with the mean and S.D of each statement.

Objective: 3

Table: 8 Descriptive Statistics

Statement N Mean Std.

Deviation

Work load of faculty should be minimized 165 3.7636 1.18368

English language courses should be arranged for the e- learning faculty 165 2.9333 1.17460

Orientation of new faculty should be about e-learning 165 4.1697 1.17714

Faculty feedback should be taken at the end of each course 165 2.7333 1.20027

Online resources should be available for e- learning faculty 165 3.3333 1.34950

The table 8 depicts third objective analysis of each statement with the mean and S.D of each statement.

Conclusion also not ready to face such a vast transition in the

There are challenges of e-learning and future field of education.
prospects for educational systems which wish to Therefore. to enhance the usage of LMS
adopt teaching and learning in this way. The (Learning Management System), users with less
educational institutions should prepare experience are required education, ICT
themselves adopting such new trends in teaching (Information and communication technology)
and learning because of the spread of pandemics training and most importantly motivation.
like COVID-19 we experienced in the recent past. Whereas faculty members are of the view that the
The goal of this article was also to focus on the utilization of LMS should be increased in the
challenges faced by e-learning faculty members future therefore this view did not support the view
to share their practical experiences and problems that faculty members are reluctant to use
which they experienced in e-learning at the time technology in teaching.
of COVID-19 and later on also. To get maximum benefits which LMS
So, in that context we focused on the important may provide in addition to lectures accessible and
challenges and perceptions of e-learning faculty timesaving, it is important for the educational
members. It is worth mentioning here that that the institutions to adopt measures for planning,
rapid transition to e-learning was a dire need of training and provision of resources. LMS is a
the hour and an urgent measure by the technology which entails learning until the usage
educational institutes. All the educational and handling of the whole system of teaching and
institutes were not ready for this radical learning becomes a segment of regular part of
changeover neither infrastructure was readily every faculty member teaching technique. It will
available nor the faculty members. Students were be convenient for the faculty members to teach,
Dr. Dawood Ahmad 9922

plan and interact with the learners by using Springer, Cham.

technology in teaching.
However, during the utilization of 3. Aung, T. N., & Khaing, S. S. (2015,
technology in teaching process, the faculty August). Challenges of implementing e-
members got improvement in the quality of learning in developing countries: A
online learning tools. We may conclude that review. In International Conference on
Pakistani educational system coped with the Genetic and Evolutionary
challenges and sustained its educational Computing (pp. 405-411). Springer,
progression uninterruptedly in line with the Cham.
timetable. The setup changed but not its
excellence. Furthermore, betterment has become 4. Kumar Basak, S., Wotto, M., &
a part of daily work of faculty members’ work. Belanger, P. (2018). E-learning, M-
The major drawback of this work is that learning and D-learning: Conceptual
we exercised it ‘inside the situation of COVID- definition and comparative analysis. E-
19’. Definitely, we require more time and learning and Digital Media, 15(4), 191-
planning to judge e-learning during COVID times 216.
in more serious way. The quantitative data
analysis will enhance our understanding of a 5. Singh, V., & Thurman, A. (2019). How
greater domain. It is recommended that all the many ways can we define online
educational institutions should make an appraisal learning? A systematic literature review
of the evolving role of their faculty members as a of definitions of online learning (1988-
result of e-learning and make sure that they 2018). American Journal of Distance
possess adequate training and support to make Education, 33(4), 289-306.
them able to realize their full capabilities. 6. Bodiako, A. V., Ponomareva, S. V.,
Rogulenko, T. M., Melnik, M. V., &
Gorlov, V. V. (2020). Professional and
Ethical Considerations qualification potential of the digital
society: indicative evaluation and
The privacy and confidentiality were assured to
systemic management. International
the respondents during the online survey and data
Journal of Sociology and Social
collection.
Policy, 41(1/2), 50-61.
References
7. Guglielmino, L. M., & Guglielmino, P. J.
(2003). Identifying learners who are
1. Antipova, T. (2020, May). Coronavirus ready for e-learning and supporting their
pandemic as black swan event. success. Preparing learners for e-
In International Conference on learning, 18-33.
Integrated Science (pp. 356-366).
Springer, Cham. 8. Klein, D., & Ware, M. (2003). E‐
2. Antipova, T. (2020, October). Digital learning: New opportunities in
view on COVID-19 impact. continuing professional
In International Conference on development. Learned publishing, 16(1),
Comprehensible Science (pp. 155-164). 34-46.
 9923 Journal of Positive School Psychology

9. Martin, F., & Bolliger, D. U. (2018). 16. Rozhkova, N., Blinova, U., & Rozhkova,
Engagement matters: Student D. (2017, December). The concept of
perceptions on the importance of management accounting based on the
engagement strategies in the online information technologies application.
learning environment. Online In International Conference on
Learning, 22(1), 205-222. Information Technology Science (pp.
89-95). Springer, Cham.
10. Muilenburg, L. Y., & Berge, Z. L. 17. Ruiz, J. G., Mintzer, M. J., & Leipzig, R.
(2005). Student barriers to online M. (2006). The impact of e-learning in
learning: A factor analytic medical education. Academic
study. Distance education, 26(1), 29-48. medicine, 81(3), 207-212.

11. Radha, R., Mahalakshmi, K., Kumar, V. 18. Jonassen, D., Spector, M. J., Driscoll, M.,
S., & Saravanakumar, A. R. (2020). E- Merrill, M. D., van Merrienboer, J., &
Learning during lockdown of Covid-19 Driscoll, M. P. (2008). Handbook of
pandemic: A global research on educational communications
perspective. International journal of and technology: a project of the
control and automation, 13(4), 1088- association for educational
1099. communications and technology.
12. Radović-Marković, M. (2010). Routledge.
Advantages and disadvantages of e- 19. Rozhkova, N., Blinova, U., & Rozhkova,
learning in comparison to traditional D. (2017, December). The concept of
forms of learning. Annals of the management accounting based on the
University of Petroşani, information technologies application.
Economics, 10(2), 289-298. In International Conference on
Information Technology Science (pp.
13. Romiszowski, A. (2003). The future of 89-95). Springer, Cham.
E-learning as an educational innovation: 20. Canton, H. (2021). United Nations
Factors influencing project success and Educational, Scientific and Cultural
failure. Revista Brasileira de Organization—UNESCO. In The
Aprendizagem Aberta e a Distância, 2. Europa Directory of International
Organizations 2021 (pp. 359-365).
14. Rosca, S., Riurean, S., Leba, M., & Routledge.
Ionica, A. (2019). An educational model
of graduation project for students at 21. Watkins, R., Leigh, D., & Triner, D.
automation and computer engineering. J. (2004). Assessing readiness for e‐
Digit. Sci, 1(1), 34-42. learning. Performance Improvement
15. Rozhkova, D., Rozhkova, N., & Blinova, Quarterly, 17(4), 66-79.
U. (2019, October). Digital universities
in Russia: prospects and problems.
In The 2018 International Conference on
Digital Science (pp. 252-262). Springer,
Cham..

View publication stats