Challenges and Strategies for Online Learning and Teaching during COVID-19 in Indonesia and Afghanistan

Abstract

The significant impact of the pandemic has altered many sectors of life, including higher education. The COVID-19 outbreak has created outnumbering challenges for students and lecturers, forcing them to adjust to online learning and teaching. They develop specific strategies to tackle the challenges and study as normally as possible. In this regard, the study investigates the challenges students and lecturers face during COVID-19 online learning and teaching at a private university in Afghanistan and a public university in Indonesia. Furthermore, it explores the strategies they applied during COVID-19 online learning and teaching to deal with these challenges. In addition, it is intended to compare the students\u27 and lecturers\u27 experiences with online learning and teaching in both countries. In order to obtain the data, the study employs open-ended questionnaires using Google Forms. The Google Form is distributed through WhatsApp and emails to students and lecturers at a public university in Indonesia and a private university in Afghanistan. Data analysis uses the online engagement framework for higher education to filter and generate themes into concepts. The study found that during COVID-19, both Indonesian and Afghan students and lecturers faced several challenges, yet the strategies they applied differed according to each country\u27s social and development context. Identifying the challenges and the strategy of online teaching and learning provides practical understanding for students, lecturers, and universities