Transforming Learning to Online Education 4.0 during COVID-19: Stakeholder Perception, Attitude, and Experiences in Higher Education Institutions at a Tier-III City in India

Table 3

Thematic analysis of student discussions.

Themes	Subthemes	Description	Instances
1	ICT readiness	Device and connectivity	“I wish I had invested in a good quality laptop and a broadband internet connection. During the stringent lockdown I could not access high quality content and effectively attend classes. It is absolutely essential during these times.”; “I had to go to a friend’s house during the lockdown to take my exams. The internet service provider did not serve my area and I faced repeated disconnections over mobile internet.”
2	Online learning	Self-paced learning vs. online classes	“I really enjoyed exploring the latest courses from coursera, the lessons were short and to the point and I could complete four courses online during the pandemic. Our institution provided free access to Coursera during the lockdown, which was very useful.”; “The online classes seemed novel at first, but quickly became boring. It was tough to sit through looking at slides and hearing the faculty members for extended periods of time. Only few faculty members could make classes interesting.”; “I completed 2 industry certifications during the lockdown. There are so many interesting channels to learn online based on your learning level and interest.”
3	Exam readiness	Work–life balance	“There is no need for final examinations as the entire syllabus was not completed. Why is the college insisting on exams during such a crisis? All students should be promoted to higher semesters without exams.”; “The University is planning to conduct exams for final semester after so much delay. It is not possible to prepare well under such stress. We are not sure whether we can appear in online exams without problems.”
4	Value perception	Quality of instructional delivery, engagement and perceived value	“Colleges have no right to demand fees when students did not attend classes, labs or use the college facilities.”; “I personally feel that colleges should reduce their fees and understand that everyone faced loss of income during the pandemic. Online classes are not the same as physical classes.”; “Online classes were just an eyewash. We did not gain much during the period.”; “Our college did not even deliver online classes during the period. There was no schedule and faculty would send out a WhatsApp message to a few students for conducting classes on short notice. The classes did not add any value and hence the college should also not charge fees.”; “The faculty worked hard to deliver classes and the institution organized several workshops, trainings and value-added courses. I got a lot of time to build my skills.”
5	Stress and mental fatigue	Uncertainty, anxiety, excessive screen-time and boredom	“My eyes started to hurt with increased screen time. Online classes are not sustainable.”; “It is difficult to concentrate with so much uncertainty around examinations. Even the teachers are not sure what will happen.”; “I am bored of online classes, I switch off my camera and carry on with my tasks.”; “My entire family got infected, we saw some very anxious times, I did not attend classes for a month.”