Bridging Research and E-Learning: Theoretical and Practical Challenges in University Teaching

Abstract

Higher education authorities in Pakistan have been exploring new dimensions, ways, and strategies to make the teaching-learning process effective. Online teaching is one way to address the challenges of physical learning, and a research-based approach engages students by allowing them to investigate comprehensively. Research-based teaching approach in online classes requires teachers to collaborate closely with students and provide comprehensive guidance and learning. This qualitative study explores the theoretical and practical challenges teachers faced during online lectures at the university level. Data for this study were taken from 17 university professors through in-depth interviews. These professors have taught online classes via Zoom, MS Teams, and other platforms. Findings of the study revealed challenges in both theoretical and practical learning, such as students' inability to understand theoretical concepts and apply them to practical research and real-world problem-solving.