Covid-19 Pandemic as a Catalyst to E-Learning Acceptance in 2020

Abstract

This paper discusses the challenges that have been experienced by Kenyan public universities over the years in the implementation of e-learning and the low acceptance and adoption of e-learning. The paper further highlights on the Covid-19 Pandemic as a catalyst to e-learning widespread acceptance and adoption among Kenyan Universities and even globally. Overs the past years, Kenyan Public Universities have been making attempts of adopting e-learning as a new approach to teaching andlearning, with some at preliminary stages whileothers at maturity levels. The implementation hadbeen facing numerous challenges in theseuniversities, which have since continued to impactnegatively on its effective utilization. However, theconfirmation of the first case of the Covid-19pandemic in Kenya in Mid-March, 2020, which ledto the government closing all schools and learninginstitutions, we have seen e-learning being embracedimmensely by institutions of learning. This paperpresents the findings from the literature review onthe challenges of e-learning and the positive twistbrought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. Kenyanuniversities including public universities haveresorted to using e-learning in blended modeapproach, especial to ensure that the universities'calendar dates are not greatly interfered with by thisCovid-19 pandemic. The purpose of this paper wasto investigate the challenges that have hindered theimplementation of e-learning especially in Kenyanpublic universities and the catalyst role played by theCovid-19 pandemic to increase uptake of e-learningin Kenya public universities. The paper establishedthat e-learning comes with some challenges thatmust be addressed by Kenyan public universitiesbefore successful implementation can be fullyrealized. The paper also established that the Covid-19 pandemic has positively increase e-learninguptake in Kenyan public universities.