Virtual School Environment as a Correlate of Academic Achievement among Adolescents during COVID-19

Page: 29-32

Ritu Mahal and Asha Chawla Thakral (Department of Human Development and Family Studies, College of Community Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab)

The purpose of this study was to explore virtual school environment as a correlate of academic achievement among adolescents during COVID-19. The sample for the study comprised of 500 adolescents in the age group of 16-18 years studying in +1 and +2 classes in the Government Senior Secondary Schools of rural and urban areas of Ludhiana and Moga districts of Punjab. Self-structured questionnaire was prepared to assess the virtual school environment of adolescents during COVID-19. The questionnaire had dimensions of the virtual school environment: student-teacher interaction, physical environment, and academic achievement and peer interactions. The results revealed adolescents perceived a high level of student -teacher interaction during virtual classes during COVID-19. Non-significant correlation was found between the virtual school environment and academic achievement. Thus, online classes didn’t affect the academic achievement of adolescents during COVID-19. The significant contribution of student-teacher interaction on academic achievement in adolescent girls was seen indicating student-teacher interaction during virtual class had an impact on the academic achievement of adolescent girls. Peer interactions had an impact on academic achievement of adolescent boys.