Understanding digital divide in online class experiences during Covid-19 lockdown in Bangladesh

Abstract

This paper explores students’ online class experiences during Covid-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. This has been an unprecedented situation and many educational institutions find it very difficult to balance the need to continue the courses with the uncertainties and mental stress faced by the students using digital platforms, mostly untested for in different contexts. To understand the online class experiences in a novel situation, we conduct an online survey of 204 top-tier private university students in Bangladesh. We find that students make logical choice between two types of online classes – live/ real-time and recorded video lectures. We observe income and gender based digital divide in how students engage with these online classes during a crisis. We find that recorded video lectures have the potential to reduce many of the problems students face during online classes by addressing digital divide to a large extent. We recommend instructors provide video recordings and other materials regularly even if they conduct live/ real-time online classes and consider novel yet empathetic approach towards learning.