Responses to COVID-19 in Higher Education: Students’ Learning Experience Using Microsoft Teams versus Social Network Sites

Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih, Amany E. Salem, Ahmed M. Hasanein and Ahmed E. Abu Elnasr
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Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih: Management Department, College of Business Administration, King Faisal University, Al-Hassa 31982, Saudi Arabia
Amany E. Salem: Social Studies Department, College of Arts, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
Ahmed M. Hasanein: Hotel Management Department, Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management, Helwan University, Cairo 12612, Egypt
Ahmed E. Abu Elnasr: Higher Institute for Specific Studies, Future Academy, Cairo 11771, Egypt

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 18, 1-12

Abstract: The long-lasting impact of COVID-19 forced governments to continue with distance learning. Due to the absence of a formal digital learning management system (DLMS), public universities in many countries adopted social network sites (SNSs), e.g., Facebook and WhatsApp, and/or digital communication platforms, e.g., Microsoft (MS) Teams and Zoom for teaching and learning. This research investigates students’ learning experiences and responses to course/s incorporating SNSs and MS Teams as a sole distance learning platform during COVID-19. An online, pre-tested, questionnaire was used, directed at bachelor students in public institutions in Egypt, offering tourism and hotel programs, who received their courses using both SNSs and MS Teams. The results showed that the usage of both SNSs and MS Teams helped students to access information and learning resources, have good impact on their knowledge construction and critical refection, and report overall positive learning experience. The results of paired-samples t-test showed statistically significant differences between students’ experiences of course/s incorporating SNSs and MS Teams. However, students recorded limited support by their educators and peers and low participation in course activities that adopted MS Teams. They also reported poor assessment and feedback with course/s that incorporated SNSs. Hence, several implications for scholars, policymakers, and educators were presented for achieving better learning experience and to cope with the pandemic or similar crises, especially in universities with poor infrastructure, including unavailability of DLMS.

Keywords: COVID-19; Microsoft (MS) Teams; social network sites (SNSs); distance learning; students’ learning experience; higher education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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