Abstract
Background:
Like many international universities and institutions of higher education that have shifted the entire educational system from the traditional face-to-face education model to distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, universities in Saudi Arabia have expended great effort to change the behavior of educators and students to accommodate the transition. This rapid shift has had a significant impact on students, especially in programs such as interior design, in which different practical courses are taught along with the theoretical ones. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the benefits and challenges senior interior design students experienced while taking their classes online.
Design and Methods:
The current paper has adopted a qualitative approach for assessing the data obtained. Semi-structured interview was used to collect all the needed information regarding participants’ opinions about distance learning.
Results:
Increased time to spend on assignments, reduction of costs to the student, and improvement in achievement of learning outcomes were the three main benefits students reported in their experience of distance learning. On the other hand, technical issues, changes in grade distribution, and changes in project types were identified as student concerns. Although students found many advantages in communicating with others remotely, some issues arose.
Conclusions:
Students expressed a preference for the hybrid learning method, or at least for having their exams, juries, and presentations on campus in person, not remotely.
Significance for public health
Universities in Saudi Arabia, like many international universities, have expended great effort to change the practices of educators and students when shifting the entire educational system from the traditional face-to-face education model to distance learning in response to the current global health crisis. In general, online learning has been widely discussed by researchers and proved to be a helpful tool in so many aspects. However, online learning could be affected by the nature of the educational programs. Interior Design programs, for example, rely primarily on practical courses such as design, technical, and drafting studios, which may prove more challenging to offer online than theoretical courses. Therefore, investigation of interior design students’ perceptions about completion of their courses online during the COVID-19 pandemic is significant for the development of strategies to overcome issues and improve the online learning experience.