Gains and losses in online learning of public and business administration students during COVID 19 pandemic: the educators’ perspective

Abstract

The research of the educators’ perspectives on online learning of undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students of public/ business administration conducted in the USA, Ukraine and a number of Asian countries, performed via mixed methodology combining qualitative (interviews and survey) and quantitative research methods, revealed general tendencies in the educators’ perceptions of losses and gains of online education. The prevalence of positive overall assessments, as well as numerous gains and opportunities for teachers and students show the prospects of online education development, specifically for working adults. The major benefits of learning online for the students include developing online communication and collaboration skills, teambuilding and teamworking skills, along with more opportunities to get education abroad without leaving their countries and interrupting jobs. For the faculty modern interactive and integrated online modality opens more opportunities for professional development as well as flexibility of schedules, savings on time and resources and ultimately better work/life balance. The analysis of problems in online learning revealed areas that require special attention of the educational institutions as well as educators, such as: creating the institutional basis for adapting the syllabi and developing new approaches to online teaching; providing the platforms for training and professional development; supporting the creation and development of multimodal instructional materials; introducing students’ learning outcomes testing methodologies which allow measuring the students’ progress and professional competences, skills and attitudes without close monitoring of their use of resources. With technological innovations, multimedia and interactive teaching tools, real-time learning tests and quizzes, online hides a huge potential for moving educational technologies and methodology to a new quality level, enriching onsite and hybrid modalities with new content and tools.