The Use of Digital Media Platforms for Continuing Education and Supporting Self-Directed Learning During The COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case Of UCC, Ghana

The outbreak of the novel Sars-Cov-2 virus (COVID19) has given birth to new and innovative ways of doing things including teaching and learning. With the global closure of schools as a mitigating factor to reduce the spread of the virus, most schools have been forced to move online, using digital media technologies to deliver instructional materials to students. Though online learning is not a new phenomenon, it has seen tremendous growth in recent times due to the pandemic. Using means and descriptive frequencies, this study explored the online platforms used by the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Ghana, to enable students to continue their education during the pandemic. It also assessed the challenges students faced with using these platforms and outlined the benefits of the platforms for supporting self-directed learning. Findings revealed that most students in UCC used online video conferencing platforms (Zoom Cloud Meetings) as well as social media platforms (Messenger) to receive content from teachers during the pandemic. The study also revealed that students faced the most difficulty in securing a regular supply of internet making it difficult for them to benefit fully from their online experience. However, these platforms are useful for encouraging self-study skills among students.