1. Evaluation of the university e-learning experience at Aqaba University of Technology by students for the academic year 2020/2021 during the Corona pandemic

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the current state of the university education system at Aqaba University of Technology, as shaped by the pandemic conditions since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, and to assess its effectiveness in achieving the intended learning outcomes. The study applied an evaluation of this experience on the stakeholders and elements of the educational process after more than two academic semesters of transition to distance learning. It aimed to identify the main advantages, challenges, and future prospects associated with this system, in addition to including a component examining the health impact resulting from the new learning method.

The evaluation in this part of the study was carried out by the Department of Courses at the College of Arts and Sciences, targeting university students through an electronic questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed, published, and student feedback was collected. It consisted of three main parts covering seven axes:

• Part One: Components and elements of the educational process, including the following axes: technologies used, electronic content, study effectiveness, interaction, and assessment.

• Part Two: Health patterns followed while using e-learning tools.

• Part Three: Future prospects of e-learning along with its additional benefits.

Data were then collected, and observations were categorized. A total of 191 responses were received, accompanied by 46 student comments—meaning that approximately one-quarter of the responses included significant student feedback. The questionnaire data were statistically analyzed using SPSS, with statistically significant indicators, followed by commentary, description, discussion of results, and overall evaluation for each axis. Student comments were sorted according to their relevance to the main axes and included verbatim under each relevant axis to enhance the overall analysis. The study then derived results and recommendations.

The main findings indicated that students at Aqaba University of Technology rated e-learning during the 2020/2021 academic year as moderate, at 68%. The axes studied were ranked as follows: interaction in e-learning received the highest rating at 74%; students highlighted the need for adjustment and development in e-learning, along with additional benefits compared to traditional methods, such as freedom from spatial and temporal constraints and reduced economic costs, at 70%. Students rated the technologies used in e-learning as moderate quality (69%), assessment methods as moderately suitable (68%), satisfaction with health patterns while using e-learning tools as moderate (68%), electronic content quality as moderately good (67%), and teaching effectiveness as moderate (64%).

Thus, the study identified the main advantages of distance learning at Aqaba University as perceived by students, highlighted the key challenges they face, and provided appropriate recommendations.

Keywords: E-learning, Distance education, COVID-19 pandemic, Aqaba University of Technology