Study Approaches of Campus-Based and Distance Learning Undergraduates during Emergency Remote Teaching amid Covid-19 Pandemic in India

Anju Sanwal
DOI:10.46852/2249-6637.03.2024.4

Abstract:

One of the significant dimensions of learning design for quality student learning is student approach to study and their learning

strategies. This assumes considerable importance especially in the contemporary context of Covid-19 pandemic and sudden switch

over to remote teaching-learning. The situation is more vulnerable in the developing countries where both campus and distance

learning students were compulsorily put to this new form of learning. The present study was undertaken to find out if there existed

any significant difference in undergraduate students’ approaches to learning and their learning strategies in relation to differences

age, gender and mode of delivery while undertaking home study at the time of pandemic in India. The revised version of the Study

Process Questionnaire (R-SPQ-2F) was administered to randomly selected 208 undergraduate students studying in two campusbased

central universities (n = 92) and one national open university (n = 116) in Delhi. The results showed that distance learning

students and female students were found adopting more of deep approaches to study than the campus students and male students

respectively. In both the delivery contexts, the female students had greater intrinsic motivation and used deep approach to learning

than their male counterparts. The results of this study have been discussed in relation of previous researches on student approach

to study, as also implications for national and institutional policy and practice of teaching-learning in higher education

The present study found distance learning students adopting a more deep approach to study as compared to students from campus universities. Female students generally and specifically in campus universities were found to have deeper motivation for study as compared to their male counterparts.