A Study on Challenges of Engineering Students Faced in Online Education with Special Reference to Kanyakumari District

Abstract

This is a study of the difficulties that engineering students in Kanyakumari District are experiencing when it came to shifting to online learning. The quantitative approach implies the collection of data on 450 students with the help of standardized questionnaires. The identified major obstacles are poor digital infrastructure, distractions in the households, and the inability to self-discipline, and male students have expressed higher levels of difficulty. The data is then analyzed with such statistical tools as t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and others. Findings indicate that fresh students perform better and take interest in the academic programs more than the seniors, and this implies that the seniors undergo a loss of motivation with time. There is a strong positive correlation between teacher communication, classroom engagement and interaction among peers which demonstrates the need of the interactive environment of learning. Online learning can be flexible but, as well, it influences the participation and performance of students negatively. Optimization of online education in terms of engineering students is suggested in the research to be increased through the enhancement of its digital access, the integration of interactive pedagogical teaching methods, and the introduction of peer-to-peer collaboration.