COVID-19 and Mass Media Education: An Evaluation of the Transition from Brick-and-Mortar Learning to Virtual Space

Abstract

Using mixed-method approach and technology acceptance model (TAM)/diffusion of innovation theory (DOIT), this study evaluates the challenges and opportunities of COVID-19 driven virtual learning in undergraduate media programmes at Ghanaian public universities. A survey of 270 was sampled composed of 250 students and 20 lecturers and revealed that commitment from both lecturers and students towards virtual instruction is weak. We also found that lecturers and students were not consulted about the learning platforms the universities chose, and they had no orientation on their usage. However, some participants argue that virtual learning is crucial to media studies going forward and by these; we propose a blended learning approach that merges the physical and virtual spaces of instruction in a framework termed CHALLOPP workflow.