Problems Faced By Universities While Shifting Online And How They Solved Them?

Today, the Internet has taken over every industry. After COVID-19, 70% of education in the field also moved online. The entire world is going online. Online education provides a number of advantages, such as portability, independence, a reduced need for infrastructure, accessibility, etc., but it also has certain drawbacks.

The National Curriculum Framework 2020 (NCF 2020) emphasizes the need for flexible and learner-centric education that meets the needs of diverse learners. E-learning can provide a platform for universities to implement these principles by engaging students in interactive and personalized learning experiences.

When switching to online education, many institutions, colleges, and even individuals encountered numerous challenges. While most colleges swiftly adapted to online learning, administering exams online posed one of the biggest obstacles. A survey found that 73% of students cheat during online tests.

Implementing an ERP in higher education can help universities streamline administrative tasks, improve data accessibility, and better serve the needs of their students in a rapidly changing educational landscape.

Furthermore, The NEP 2020 recognizes the importance of online learning and encourages universities to leverage technology to improve the quality and accessibility of education. By adopting innovative solutions and strategies for online learning, universities can align with the goals of NEP 2020 and provide high-quality education to students, regardless of their location or background.

Some of the most common challenges include:

1. Network Problem

When there is a weak network, the voice can also get muddled, making it difficult for students to understand what the instructor is saying. Also, what teachers want to present on screens cannot be done, due to poor connectivity. The course is incomplete and takes longer to finish as a result of the weak connection.

Thus, students struggle to understand lecturers, and because of their poor understanding, they have several doubts.

2. Technology Challenges

To solve this issue, universities collaborated with ERP technology companies to provide the necessary tools and resources. They invested in new technology infrastructure and offered training to teachers to help them adapt to online teaching. Universities also provided students with loaner laptops and other resources required to participate in online classes.

Moreover, this allowed institutions to quickly transition to e-learning and continue providing quality education to their students.

3. Distractions

Mobile phone and laptop use while taking an online course can be further distracting. When you conduct online classes from home, voice disturbance is also present. Therefore, you need to create a designated study space that is free from distractions. Universities can also provide students with time-management and study skills resources to help them stay focused.

4. Faculty Readiness

Universities offer faculty members training in online teaching and resources to combat this issue. They provided webinars and courses on subjects like video conferencing software, LMS technologies, and best practices for online instruction. This made it easier for academic staff to quickly adjust to online instruction and provide students with high-quality instruction.

However, the faculty's unpreparedness is still highly prevalent.

5. Student Involvement & Engagement

In order to keep students on track with their schoolwork, universities also made sure to give them feedback on a frequent basis. Additionally, some colleges established online forums or communities where students could communicate with one another and their lecturers.

6. Accessibility Issues

Universities addressed this issue by giving students access to loaner laptops, internet hotspots, and other tools required to take part in online courses. Additionally, they collaborated with internet service providers to offer needy students reduced or free internet access.

Moreover, universities also made sure that online information was accessible to students with disabilities by offering captions, transcripts, and other modifications as required.

7. Assessment and Grading

Universities created new online assessment techniques that were suitable for online learning to address this issue. They assessed student learning using resources including online quizzes, tests, and homework. To preserve academic integrity, they also deployed tools for plagiarism detection. To oversee online tests and discourage cheating, some universities also used proctoring software.

8. Limited In-Person Communication

But as universities moved online, there was a decline in social connection. Because they are unable to effectively communicate with their students and, as a result, are not seeing improvements in their performance, this has a mental impact on them.

The colleges created WhatsApp groups for each class of students to address this issue. Students exchange issues, questions, and uncertainties in this group related to their course. This made it easier for students and lecturers to interact. Students' opinions on the subjects they were taught were solicited, which helped teachers.

9. Changed Environment

You must deal with a lot of disturbances. Teachers encounter this issue in the same way when running their home-based online courses. If you have a personal room at home, you can also create a setting similar to a classroom or college. You must adjust your schedule in accordance with it.

ERP software such as College Management Systems, Learning Management Systems, and Student Information Systems can help streamline administrative tasks, improve communication between stakeholders, bridge learning gaps, and provide valuable insights into student performance. By implementing such ERP Campus solutions, institutions can enhance their capabilities in online learning and better serve the needs of their students and staff.