Online teaching and learning due to Covid-19: Case study on the impact on engineering students

In response to the global outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), strict lockdown measures, social distance and face mask became the new normal which consequently caused a transition from contact classes to online learning. For engineering education, a practical approach, hands-on laboratory instructions for teaching and learning are critical. However, the unprecedented effect of Covid-19 pandemic has resulted into an abrupt migration from contact classes to online learning. The Management at University of Johannesburg made a decision to embark on online teaching and learning to save the academic year(s). This study aims to investigate perceptions of engineering students about online teaching and learning and the impact of the rapid change from face to face to online teaching and learning. In this study a mixture qualitative and quantitative research methods were used to analyze the phenomenon, using case study of 2020 and 2021 3rd year Mechanical Engineering Technology and 2021 1st year Industrial Technology students. The outcome of this study revealed that the perception of the engineering student students is that online learning is not such a bad option, while other suggest that even after Covid-19, some courses could be taught online. The outcome of this study is expected to give a holistic perception of e-learning methods and its efficiency in teaching engineering programs in the pandemic period. The online teaching and learning is likely to be a new normal in institutions of higher learning, however, institutions should provide all the necessary support to students.