Moroccan English Department Student Attitudes Towards the Use of Distance Education During COVID-19

Abstract

The current study aims to investigate students' attitudes towards the use of distance education during COVID-19 in Morocco. The first cases of COVID-19 starting from the first weeks of March 2020 has obliged educational authorities to suspend face-to-face education. Immediately, distance education was declared the alternative means to complete the academic year. Moroccan TV channels started broadcasting lessons for different levels at different times. Moreover, teachers and students started using social media and university platforms to share lessons. However, not all students agree with distance education in the adopted format. Accordingly, the current study investigates the attitudes of Moroccan English Department students at Moulay Ismail University. A mixed-method design was adopted by triangulating data from five-point Likert scale questionnaires and a focus group. The results showed that students generally prefer face-to-face education rather than distance education. However, part-time students reported positive attitudes towards distance education. It is recommended that both distance education and face-to-face education should be planned by teachers, coordinators, and administrators.

Possible Factors Determining Satisfaction of Distance Education Among University Students

“…The results have shown that students in general prefer face-to-face education over distance learning. On the other hand, working students (part-time or full-time) reported a positive approach to distance education (Benhima, 2021).…”

Online Learning, Offline Performance: Evidence from Moroccan High School Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…In Morocco, far too little attention has been paid to online education. Benhima (2021) displayed University students' acceptance and attitudes toward distance education during COVID-19. The researcher used questionnaires and focus group discussions to determine students' used platforms during the pandemic and their attitudes towards distance learning.…”

Analytic survey on the challenges of Moroccan students in higher education institutions face to distance learning

“…We attest the emergence of MOOCs, as well as the creation of electronic sites and plateforms destined to host various content of courses even more interactive. In the field of scientific research, the resources of the International Digital Library "EBSCO" have been made available free of charge to students, professors and researchers, in addition to a number of international platforms and libraries, such as "Al-Manahil", "Cairn" and "Dalloz" [38]. No solutions that meet the needs of students and teachers have been put in place.…”