Advantages and Disadvantages of Distance Learning During the Coronavirus Pandemic: Faculty of Arts and Humanities of Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah as Case Study

Abstract

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, most educational institutions have shifted from onsite traditional learning to distance learning to ensure the continuity of education. In Morocco, adopting distance education as a medium of teaching and learning has raised several concerns about the advantages and disadvantages of implementing it during the quarantine. The current study aims to scrutinise Moroccan university students' opinions about the main pros and cons of distance learning during the pandemic. To accomplish the aim of the study, the researchers relied on an exploratory, descriptive method via a self-designed online questionnaire. Three hundred sixty-two students participated in the study. The results indicate that although distance learning has many advantages that enable the learners to achieve academic and knowledge development, it still has many disadvantages that hinder the adoption of this form of education as an adequate replacement for onsite traditional education.