Studying in a Pandemic: Analysing the Effects of Online University Teaching Using Photovoice

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyse the effects of online teaching in the context of a pandemic on the experiences of university students at the Universidad de Granada (Spain). For this purpose, the photovoice method was applied, adapted to the online context, and performing a qualitative analysis of text and image material collected. Socioeconomic, gender and geographical origin differences were addressed. A total of 99 students from three undergraduate degree courses and two different academic years participated in the research. The main results indicate that the key effects of online teaching in a pandemic have fundamentally impacted three key aspects: the structural conditions of study and work organisation strategies, the teaching-learning process, and the emotional well-being of students. The greatest difficulties have resulted from the destructuring of learning times and spaces, the lack of places and resources to study, the isolation and depersonalisation of the teaching process, the intensification of their workload, and the lack of adaptation of teaching methodologies. However, positive aspects such as learning new resources, cost savings and flexibility in learning are also highlighted.