Virtual Learning Environments as an Assessment Tool in Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Increasingly, the methods of measurement and evaluation in distance education applications have been discussed in light of the pandemic. In this study, the use of virtual learning environments in higher education as an assessment tool has been examined. The chosen platform for this purpose was the UKEY (Uludağ University Institutional, Educational, and Research Activities Governance System) virtual learning platform. During the 2019-2020 academic year, when the pandemic had a significant impact, online open-ended questions were posed to 46 academics who used the UKEY platform. The preparation of open-ended questions was based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology-2 (UTAUT-2). Research was designed as a case study, and the collected data was subjected to descriptive analysis. Member checking method was utilized, and how the themes were interpreted was reviewed through semi-structured interviews with five participants. According to the results of the study, the behavioral intentions of the participants towards using the UKEY platform varied. It was found that the platform partially met performance expectations but required considerable effort. Facilitating conditions had a positive impact on users, and in the context of social influence, student behaviors significantly affected the academics. UKEY had not yet become a habit, and these variables were found to have a significant impact on usage intention. The results of the study were discussed within the framework of concepts such as online anonymity, the integration of technology with a pedagogical perspective, and the need for a paradigm change in education.