Students’ Reflections on the Use of the Zoom Video Conferencing Technology for Online Learning at a South African University

12Citations
Citations of this article
65Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

The majority of universities in South Africa offer face-to-face lectures, resulting in the neglect of online lectures, although learning management systems (LMS) have been adopted and are capable of supporting online learning (e-learning). The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) forced universities to move fully online and to adopt Video Conferencing Technologies (VCT) to supplement LMS for e-learning. However, most students confront challenges related to a digital divide, raising the question of whether universities are able to address these effectively. This study explored stu-dents’ reflections on the use of the Zoom VCT for e-learning at a South African university. An interpretive qualitative case study was conducted, with data generated using emailed reflective activities and Zoom focus group discussions with 26 students in a curriculum studies programme. The framework of connectivism was employed and the data were thematically analysed. The study found that Internet access was a major challenge. While most students enjoyed synchronous Zoom discussions, they were unable to use other Zoom functions for effective engagement. It is thus recommended that the university should develop an e-learning policy and provide the necessary resources and training to students in order to ensure fitness for purpose.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Mpungose, C. B., & Khoza, S. B. (2021). Students’ Reflections on the Use of the Zoom Video Conferencing Technology for Online Learning at a South African University. International Journal of African Higher Education, 8(1), 159–178. https://doi.org/10.6017/ijahe.v8i1.13371

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free