Exploring Faculty Members’ Experiences with Virtual Classroom Platforms and Their Perceived Usability during the COVID-19
This two-phase mixed-method study examined faculty experiences with Virtual Communication Platforms (VCPs) and their usability in distance education during the COVID-19 epidemic. A stratified random sample of 913 faculty members from 167 universities was selected to participate in an online question...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Kafkas University
2024-12-01
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| Series: | e-Kafkas Eğitim Araştırmaları Dergisi |
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| Online Access: | https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/3926783 |
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| _version_ | 1841549868592529408 |
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| author | Yunus Alkış Zafer Kadırhan Mustafa Şat |
| author_facet | Yunus Alkış Zafer Kadırhan Mustafa Şat |
| author_sort | Yunus Alkış |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This two-phase mixed-method study examined faculty experiences with Virtual Communication Platforms (VCPs) and their usability in distance education during the COVID-19 epidemic. A stratified random sample of 913 faculty members from 167 universities was selected to participate in an online questionnaire that included the System Usability Scale, demographic information, and open-ended questions. Twenty-five of the faculty members who had completed the online questionnaire were then interviewed in semi-structured interviews. The quantitative analysis results indicate that Zoom was the most favored platform, obtaining a ‘Good’ usability score together with Google Meet and Adobe Connect. In contrast, Perculus and Microsoft Teams were evaluated as having ‘Poor’ usability. Results also revealed the significant effect of gender on Perculus, distance education experience on Zoom, and age and academic status on Zoom and Google Meet usability perceptions. Furthermore, the qualitative analysis results revealed usability challenges (e.g., technical challenges, functionality issues, usability concerns), positive aspects (e.g., usability and effectiveness, support and issue resolution, performance and accessibility), and suggestions for improvement (e.g., instruction and support, exploration and optimization, format and assessment enhancement). The study offers valuable insights for institutions to make informed decisions about adopting VCP, investing in targeted training programs, and ultimately fostering a more effective and inclusive distance education environment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4cf9e60868664ea09cf3f9fc0fdebe29 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2148-8940 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Kafkas University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | e-Kafkas Eğitim Araştırmaları Dergisi |
| spelling | doaj-art-4cf9e60868664ea09cf3f9fc0fdebe292025-01-10T12:47:01ZengKafkas Universitye-Kafkas Eğitim Araştırmaları Dergisi2148-89402024-12-0111452454210.30900/kafkasegt.1483268148Exploring Faculty Members’ Experiences with Virtual Classroom Platforms and Their Perceived Usability during the COVID-19Yunus Alkış0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5159-1344Zafer Kadırhan1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7839-5319Mustafa Şat2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6522-3238MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITYANKARA UNIVERSITYKırıkkale ÜniversitesiThis two-phase mixed-method study examined faculty experiences with Virtual Communication Platforms (VCPs) and their usability in distance education during the COVID-19 epidemic. A stratified random sample of 913 faculty members from 167 universities was selected to participate in an online questionnaire that included the System Usability Scale, demographic information, and open-ended questions. Twenty-five of the faculty members who had completed the online questionnaire were then interviewed in semi-structured interviews. The quantitative analysis results indicate that Zoom was the most favored platform, obtaining a ‘Good’ usability score together with Google Meet and Adobe Connect. In contrast, Perculus and Microsoft Teams were evaluated as having ‘Poor’ usability. Results also revealed the significant effect of gender on Perculus, distance education experience on Zoom, and age and academic status on Zoom and Google Meet usability perceptions. Furthermore, the qualitative analysis results revealed usability challenges (e.g., technical challenges, functionality issues, usability concerns), positive aspects (e.g., usability and effectiveness, support and issue resolution, performance and accessibility), and suggestions for improvement (e.g., instruction and support, exploration and optimization, format and assessment enhancement). The study offers valuable insights for institutions to make informed decisions about adopting VCP, investing in targeted training programs, and ultimately fostering a more effective and inclusive distance education environment.https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/3926783virtual classroom platform (vcp)synchronous distance educationcovid-19system usabilityfaculty members |
| spellingShingle | Yunus Alkış Zafer Kadırhan Mustafa Şat Exploring Faculty Members’ Experiences with Virtual Classroom Platforms and Their Perceived Usability during the COVID-19 e-Kafkas Eğitim Araştırmaları Dergisi virtual classroom platform (vcp) synchronous distance education covid-19 system usability faculty members |
| title | Exploring Faculty Members’ Experiences with Virtual Classroom Platforms and Their Perceived Usability during the COVID-19 |
| title_full | Exploring Faculty Members’ Experiences with Virtual Classroom Platforms and Their Perceived Usability during the COVID-19 |
| title_fullStr | Exploring Faculty Members’ Experiences with Virtual Classroom Platforms and Their Perceived Usability during the COVID-19 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring Faculty Members’ Experiences with Virtual Classroom Platforms and Their Perceived Usability during the COVID-19 |
| title_short | Exploring Faculty Members’ Experiences with Virtual Classroom Platforms and Their Perceived Usability during the COVID-19 |
| title_sort | exploring faculty members experiences with virtual classroom platforms and their perceived usability during the covid 19 |
| topic | virtual classroom platform (vcp) synchronous distance education covid-19 system usability faculty members |
| url | https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/3926783 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yunusalkıs exploringfacultymembersexperienceswithvirtualclassroomplatformsandtheirperceivedusabilityduringthecovid19 AT zaferkadırhan exploringfacultymembersexperienceswithvirtualclassroomplatformsandtheirperceivedusabilityduringthecovid19 AT mustafasat exploringfacultymembersexperienceswithvirtualclassroomplatformsandtheirperceivedusabilityduringthecovid19 |