Distance Learning in Disasters: Case of Earthquake in Türkiye

Abstract

The aims of this research are to gather the opinions of university students who survived the Kahramanmara & scedil; earthquake regarding (i) the usefulness of the distance education implemented after the earthquake, (ii) the effectiveness of online education, (iii) the relationship with teachers and evaluation activities, and (iv) their satisfaction level in online education in terms of learning method and learning needs. Case study design is used in the research. Conducting a criterion sampling method, the study group consists of a total of 20 earthquake survivor students. Themes and sub-themes were identified during online interviews with earthquake survivor students. As a result, it was understood that the psychological readiness levels of the students were low for the distance learning after the earthquake but considering the factors such as the loss of their relatives and damage to their homes due to the earthquake, it was understood that the idea of continuing the education even at a distance was dominant with the idea of providing benefit rather than interrupting the education. Besides, while participants found asynchronous instruction methods beneficial, they mostly found online evaluation methods inefficient. Lastly, participants present their opinions about governmental post-disaster support and its effect on online education.