PERCEPTIONS OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, LECTURERS, AND LAB ASSISTANTS TOWARDS THE USE OF ONLINE LABORATORY IN SCIENCE EDUCATION DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

The current study investigates the perceptions towards online science laboratory approach in Qatar. It aims to shed the light on the undergraduate students', lecturers' and lab assistants' perceptions towards online science laboratory during COVID-19 pandemic at Qatar University. Quantitative design is used in this study by a questionnaire. The sample of the study is undergraduate students, lecturers, and lab assistants who were enrolled in any science laboratories under the department of chemistry, physics, or biology. The collected data is analyzed using SPSS program, using T-test and one-way ANOVA. The findings of the study indicate that they have positive perception towards online science laboratories and there are no significant differences in their perceptions attributed to role of the participants at Qatar university whether they are students, lecturers or lab assistants and attributed to the nature of the subject whether chemistry, physics, or biology. However, there are significant differences attributed to the gender for male participants in the study. Consequently, in this situation the researcher recommends more technical trainings at Qatar University to help them implementing online laboratories with high efficiency.