POST COVID-19 -THE IMPACT OF ICT FACILITIES ON THE LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND PROBLEMS FACED BY THE RURAL STUDENTS OF HIGHER EDUCATION

This survey research was aimed at the impact of ICT facilities on learning experiences and the problems faced by the rural students of higher education while using ICT after Covid-19. The research study comprised the students of Rural areas in Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh. About 400 students were selected from the different Colleges. Graphical representation was used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that the students have computer system/Laptop/Mobile and Internet facilities at home and college. They are expert at simple skills like Searching and Browsing at Internet, Social networking like Facebook, Instagram, reels, Whatsapp, Youtube etc., Mobile and Computer games, to some extend Email and File attachment but are less skilled or poor on other skills like using MS Word, MS Power Point, digital library, discussion forums, and different kind of online form fillings. Students spend more time on mobile and computers for recreational and other purposes than for academic excellence. They believe that the use of ICT supports their learning, but they are getting diverted from the focus of educational learning by misusing ICT facilities. They are some fact findings in the rural areas such as financial incapability to purchase Mobiles/Computers/Laptops,poor network in mobile and computer/Laptop, signal problem in Internet, and lack of internet accessare the problems faced by the majority of the rural students. The collegeadministration tried it best onimproving the ICT facilities by installing latest required ICT facilities and fixed ICT related problems of students at the college.