Volume 29, Issue 5, 2020
DOI: 10.24205/03276716.2020.1027
THE EFFECT OF COMMUNICATION BARRIERS ON DISTANCE LEARNERS ACHIEVEMENTS
Abstract
Background: Communication is a functional element of life. It transmits information, ideas, feelings and mutual understanding among people. Everyone has different capabilities to interact with others. There are specific barriers that restrict people's expression. The key objectives of this study were to elaborate on the communication barriers in distance education and their effects on the learning achievement of distance learners.
Methods: Stratified random sampling technique was used for 380 M.Ed Students from the five central regions of AIOU. The Academia in the Faculty of Education, Allama Iqbal Open University and all the Regional Heads were included in the study while 300 tutors of M.Ed program were also included in the sample. Four different set of questionnaires were used for data collection based on a five-point Likert scale. The data were analyzed by using descriptive statistical techniques, mean score and standard deviation.
Findings: Cultural barriers and psychological barriers showed no effect on academic achievement of distance learner. However, findings depicted that social barriers, cultural barriers, temporal barriers, technical barriers, psychological barriers, contextual barriers and collaborative barriers showed effect on academic achievement. It is clear from findings that communication gap had showed effect on academic achievement of distance learners.
Results: It was concluded that distance learners faced challenges in communication that effect the achievements of distance learners.
Conclusion: By providing better communication facilitates the distance learners through digital support services, immediate and timely feedback can enhance the teaching-learning process.
Keywords
Communication barriers, distance education, learning achievements, M.Ed. Students, M.Ed. Tutors.