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Research Article

COVID-19 Scenario of Online Education: A Study Based on
Acceptance Level of Online Learning among Students of
Gujarat During Lock-down

Sarika Srivastava & Anupama Chirag Dave 2
1
1 Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Management Studies,
Gujarat Technological University, India, Email:ap2_cgbs@gtu.edu.in
2 Assistant Professor, School of Business & Law, Navrachana University,
Vadodara, Gujarat, India

Abstract

The pandemic COVID-19 forced all the educational institutions across India to remain
shut from mid-March 2020. The sudden lockdown in between the ongoing academic
sessions created the opportunity to switch over to online teaching through digital
platforms. The e-learning market was estimated to grow even in normal circumstances,
but this pandemic has given a great lift to this online learning. Various researches have
been done on the usefulness of technology for online teaching but what is the level
of acceptance among users i.e., students, should be understood. This study aims at
understanding the acceptance level of students for online teaching. For this research
data was gathered from 1,057 undergraduate and postgraduate students of Gujarat
who had attended online lectures during the lockdown period of pandemic. Structural
Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to test the research model and based on analysis
strategic options which could be utilized post COVID-19 were suggested. The research
identified that students had a favourable attitude towards using online mode of
education. Attitude in this research was considered as a result of Perceived Usefulness
(PU) and Perception about Complexity of using Internet (PCI). The results highlighted that
students perceived online classes as useful to them in terms of improving knowledge,
solving doubts related to the subject, saving time as well as scoring good marks. If the
technical glitches can be resolved then it can increase the effectiveness. This paper helps
in identifying the behavioural intentions of students for accepting online platforms and
making strategic decisions for upcoming academic sessions.

Key Words: Online education, E- learning, Technology acceptance model, COVID-19
education, Attitude towards online teaching

Introduction market began in the 1960s when first
computerized training courses were
Online Education – Pre COVID-19
Scenario developed but owing to various barriers
it did not take up then. Later in the 1980s
The concept of learning online is not at and 1990s various developments in the
all a new trend. The e-learning market form of growth of PCs, few companies
has a history of 21 years by now. This and educational institutions offering

40 Indian Journal of Educational Technology
Volume 3, Issue 2, July 2021