STUDENTS' PERSPECTIVE ON DISTANCE EDUCATION PROVIDED AT UNIVERSITIES DUE TO COVID-19: THE EXAMPLE OF GAZİANTEP UNIVERSITY SOCIAL SCIENCES VOCATIONAL SCHOOL

Abstract

Covid-19 virus, which caused a global crisis, emerged in 2019 and spread all over the world in 2020, causing changes in many areas. Undoubtedly, education is one of the areas most affected by this epidemic. With the closure of educational institutions and the rapid implementation of the quarantine process, distance education has emerged as an option in countries. During this process, formal education was suspended in all education levels in our country and a decision was made to switch to the distance education system. However, due to Covid-19, distance education carried out in higher education institutions has different dynamics from the process called distance education. This education is called emergency distance learning. Emergency distance learning is the temporary transfer of face-to-face education to the technology environment in a crisis. In other words, it means moving the traditional classroom online for a certain period of time and switching back to face-to-face education when the problem disappears. The aim of this study is to determine the perceptions of students about distance education given at Gaziantep University Social Sciences Vocational School due to Covid-19. Questionnaire method was used as a data collection tool in the study. As a result of the research, it has been determined that 54.9% of the students do not have a personal computer and internet connection, and although they prefer face-to-face education, they think that they should continue distance education until the epidemic threat is completely eliminated.In addition, it was determined that Gaziantep University Distance Education Application and Research Center provided all kinds of information during the transition to distance education, but they experienced some problems in using the system when they first started using the system. It was determined that the students found the system well-integrated for lectures and online exams, but they were of the opinion that taking exams without remote supervision was not correct in terms of evaluation.