Assessing Satisfaction of Science School Subject Teachers and Leaders in Rwanda on the Continuous Professional Development through Online Learning

Abstract

In Rwanda, social, economic, and educational activities have recently been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. After its outbreak, schools closed, and one of the alternatives opted for was online learning. This study assessed the satisfaction of school subject leaders (SSLs) and school leaders (SLs) with online learning and identified opportunities and challenges for the improvement of online learning. The study was guided by a professional development framework and design for online teaching. Data were gathered through an online survey and a Zoom meeting with 158 SSLs and 120 SLs purposively chosen from the University of Rwanda's continuous professional development (CPD). Findings indicated that the most commonly used materials are laptops and mobile phones, while the most entertaining activities include doing online quizzes and interactive discussions. Furthermore, the study revealed a high level of satisfaction with online facilitation, even though teachers still need support from facilitators. In addition, males are more motivated to continue with online learning than females. It was also revealed that both SSLs and SLs still have challenges in uploading assignments, contributing to forum discussions, and understanding the subject content. This study recommended the increase of videos, online quizzes, and face-to-face sessions to improve online learning.