ONLINE CLASSES OF NURSING STUDENTS DURING LOCKDOWN (COVID PANDEMIC): PERCEPTION AND ISSUES

Background: During 20th Century, Online study is the most significant aspect of learning. The importance of online learning over traditional method of classroom teaching includes paperless, distant and instruction based learning. During COVID-19 pandemic, online study emerged as an excellent solution for education of students.Aim: To assess the perception and issues regarding online study during lockdown among nursing students studying in selected college. Methodology:A quantitative approach and cross sectional survey research design was used to assess the perception and issues regarding online study during lockdown among 278 students selected through total enumeration sampling technique studying in selected nursing college of block Pachhad, district Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh. Online self-structured questionnaire was used as a tool for data collection. Descriptive data analysis was done with SPSS (version 23). Results & Conclusion: As per perception, majority (77.7%) of participants responded that classroom teaching is the best teaching learning method. 38.1% of them responded that online learning is less interactive and difficult to operate. Most (43.9%) of subjects were agreed that online learning provides opportunity to create students own learning environment. More than half (68.7%) of subjects were partially satisfied with online study lockdown (COVID Pandemic). Regarding issues of online study, majority subjects were not able to maintain proper time schedule, faced network issues, less student & teacher interaction and inadequate access to learning material etc.Hence adequate resources, proper schedule, technical support etc. are required to make online study more effective.