From the classroom to the virtual classroom: The technological, economic and mental health challenges facing university students in developing remote education in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

This article addresses the economic, social and educational effects of mandatory lockdowns in response to the global public health problem caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This, in the context of the closure of educational institutions in its face-to-face modality and the imperative passage to the remote or virtual modality. Thus, this paper seeks to understand the difficulties in terms of technology, mental health, and economic resources faced by students of a Higher Education Institution, with national coverage and belonging to the middle class of the country. Therefore, a descriptive and mixed type of research was carried out through focus groups, open interviews and surveys to students, teachers and directors. It was found that the main technological obstacle is connectivity through a stable and high-speed network. These deficiencies were more severe in rural areas. In relation to mental health, the presence of different stressors in students that have been identified in the current crisis and in previous research on other health disaster contexts was recognized. And, finally, there was evidence of widespread concern among students about the economic impacts of the pandemic and the possibilities of continuing their academic training processes.