Digital transformation of university teaching in communication during the COVID-19 emergency in Spain: an approach from students’ perspective

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 or coronavirus disease) health crisis declared in 2020 led to the suspension of ongoing in-person learning in Spanish universities and showed the difficulties to move forward in the digital transformation of the university world. The objective of the research whose results are presented is to approach, from students’ perspective to how university studies in Communication in Spain adapted ongoing in-person learning to online learning during such an emergency period. Methodology: A self-administered online questionnaire was completed by a sample of Communication Faculties students from all the Spanish regions in which these studies are offered. Results: 57% of the students approve the management of the situation by their Faculties, resulting in a higher percentage in private universities compared to public ones. The virtual classroom has been the most recognized technological platform (accounting for 84.5% of the cases) while the main teaching resources have been File uploading (73.2%) and Videoconferences (67.9%), the latter being the most valued by students while not the most employed. Discussion and results: The Faculties of Communication -in the context of University education in Spain- have succeeded in deploying the existing resources to virtual learning, although the pandemic has exposed some technological limitations of the universities. Broadly speaking and given the urgency of the transformation, common methods used for in-person learning have been shifted to the online world, instead of developing a teaching methodology that could benefit from all the advantages of virtual learning. Specifically, in anomalous situations like this one, the role of the teacher has proved to be essential, not only in transmitting knowledge but also in giving students attention and support.