Leveraging challenges: Advancing digital education in the digital frontier

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the difficulties faced by teachers while delivering online classes and to find various strategies to address these concerns. This study also aims to examine the post-pandemic shift toward blended teaching along with traditional methods. The present study utilizes a qualitative approach. The sample of the study comprises teachers in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Punjab. Semi-structured in-depth interviews with 32 teachers were conducted regarding the challenges they face while conducting online classes. The analysis was done using ATLAS.ti version 8. The findings shed light on six different categories of the difficulties faced by teachers: teaching amidst the home setting, assessment and evaluation, students’ engagement in online learning, technical problems, personal problems faced by the teachers, and issues related to institutional support. The study also tries to illustrate the transition from online to blended teaching, which has now become a new normal or the ‘next normal,’ despite the challenges. COVID-19 is one of the most severe issues that humanity has ever encountered. The transition and acceptance process varied across countries, regions, and institutions due to local circumstances and guidelines, but it was undoubtedly a roller coaster for teachers. Different individuals gradually unfolded the challenges. Blended education offers a flexible solution that can effectively address the challenges associated with online education in the post-pandemic era.