A Study of Blended E-learning Platforms for Continuing Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ghana

Abstract

The current study sought to achieve the following objectives; 1) to outline the challenges University of Cape Coast ( UCC) students faced with using e-learning platforms during the pandemic; 2) to test the relationship between ICT training input and the ability to use e-learning platforms effectively for learning during the pandemic; 3) to develop and determine the efficiency of using an online video-based instruction through a blended e-learning method for studying Public Relations (PR) in the UCC; 4) to compare students’scores after taking a lesson through the online video-based instruction based on the blended e-learning concept; and 5) to assess students’ satisfaction with learning PR using the blended e-learning approach. The samples in this study which were 30 third year students studying at UCC in the academic year 2021 was obtained by means of a purposive random sampling. The study revealed that students faced challenges with the cost associated with regularly purchasing internet bundles for their online studies coupled with unstable internet connectivity, lack of physical connection with others, and the inability to navigate the platforms effectively. A video-based instruction was used in the experiment as a blended e-learning approach to learning during the pandemic. The statistics used in the study were means, the Chi-squared test of association as well the paired sample t-test. The study result indicated that the paired sample t-test dependent which was conducted to test the impact of the video-based instruction on the learning achievement of students revealed that the students recorded a high posttest score of 24.73 compared to the pretest score of 17.7. This indicated that the video-based instruction was highly efficient meeting the 80/80 standard. Finally, the students’ satisfaction questionnaire also revealed that the students were generally very satisfied with taking part of their lesson online through a blended e-learning format.