E- Learning Challenges among Undergraduate Students Attending Degree Institutions in Dharwad, India: A Cross Sectional Study

Students in India and other countries were forced to learn online during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research sought to investigate student challenges with online learning during the epidemic. In the current study, 340 undergraduate students from 18 under graduate degree colleges in Dharwad district were randomly selected, and using a Google form, a questionnaire was sent to them by email and WhatsApp to get accurate information. The questionnaire consisted of thirty questions covering socio-demographic characteristics, and technological, psychological, and environmental aspects. Cochran's method was employed to determine the study's sample size of colleges and students. A basic random sampling process was used to choose a sample of colleges and students. Using MS Excel, SPSS, and R programming packages, we applied statistical approaches such the Chi-square test for independence of characteristics, odds ratio, and diagrammatic representations to the acquired data in order to accomplish our purpose. The results showed that there were eleven barriers that students had to overcome before they could embrace online education: unreliable internet, continuous power supply, problems with audiovisuals, lack of privacy, ignorance of ICT, distractions during online classes, scheduling conflicts to attend, learning in hands-on classes, health issues from prolonged use of electronics, difficulty interacting with others, and weight gain. A significant difference was found between the variables according to the results of the Chi-square test used to examine associations between variables. Based on the result it is also found that physically handicapped students faced Psychological problems besides the above barriers. This research might contribute to the corpus of information that helps colleges prepare for the eventual implementation of online education and lessen associated issues. This could make people want and prefer to use online learning in the future.