An observational study of engineering online education during the COVID-19 pandemic
Engineering students and faculty at a large, diverse university faced logistical, technical, and learning/teaching challenges during the abrupt shift to online instruction due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Key challenges for students included difficulty maintaining focus, Zoom fatigue, social disconnection, and lack of clear guidance, while faculty struggled with access to technology, online assessment methods, and providing hands-on training. Practical recommendations for improvement, including better utilization of learning management systems, alternative assessment strategies, and enhanced communication, were proposed.