Using online photovoice and community-based participatory research to understand facilitators and barriers to online distance education during COVID-19

Abstract

In this study, we used online photovoice and community-based participatory research to understand and address facilitators and barriers to online distance education for college students in Turkey. Out of 260 students who consented to the study, 240 shared the most important facilitator, 190 shared the most important barriers, and 190 completed our contextual questions related to their education. We used online interpretative phenomenological analysis to identify key facilitators and barriers. Ten main facilitator themes emerged, including advantages of using Internet and technology (n = 104; 43%); enjoyable feelings (n = 61; 25%); saving time (n = 37; 15%); and social support (n = 28; 12%). Nine main barrier themes emerged, including challenges of online education (n = 51; 31%); psychopathology and unenjoyable feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations (n = 37; 19%); Internet problems (n = 34; 18%); and COVID-19 restrictions (n = 30; 16%).