The Use of Virtual Learning in Improving Communication skills: Students’ and Teachers’ Perspective

Abstract

The study focused on Students’ and Teachers’ Perspective on the use of virtual learning in improving communication skills. Descriptive designed was used in this study to enable the validation easily. The sample size of the respondents was 31 students and 11 lecturers of Basic Midwifery Class at College of Nursing and Midwifery, Damaturu, Yobe State Nigeria. The instrument that was used in collecting the data was questionnaire. The procedure for collecting the data was online using survey monkey application to easy the work. And the theory that was used is Transactional Distance Theory. Some of the findings revealed that teachers and students prefer face to face learning than virtual, and have positive attitudes towards virtual learning; Virtual learning caused difficulties that might handicap teaching and learning processes as a result of network problem, too cost of data subscription, unfamiliarity with the system, time consuming because of network failure etc; Virtual classes developed Communication skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) in teaching and learning, and virtual classes played a significant role in enhancing teachers’ and students’ communication skills. Based on the findings, the study would contribute by motivating researchers to fill the gap where the study had not been touch, and it would also contribute by encouraging teachers and students in participating academic activities virtually. Lastly, it was recommended that managements of an institution should be having e-learning training to their teachers and students so that they should be well equipped in the field, and also to provide a well necessary furnished e-learning gadgets in improving the system.