Virtual Teaching and Its Challenges in Corona Era from the Perspective of Mazandaran University Female Faculty Members: A Phenomenological Study

The purpose of this study was to study the challenges of virtual education in the Corona era from the perspective of lived experience of female faculty members of Mazandaran University. The design of the present study was qualitative and the method used, was phenomenological. The statistical population included women faculty members of University of Mazandaran in the academic year 2020-2021, which was a total of 71 members. Qualitative data were collected using semi-structured interviews of 20 members. The validity and reliability of the study were verified on the basis of validity, transferability, reliability, and verifiability the method of data analysis in this study was thematic analysis (comprehensive, organizing, and inclusive). The results showed that women faced various challenges in e-learning which were classified into 1 comprehensive theme, 3 organizing themes and 9 inclusive themes Changes in teaching style, infrastructure and facilities and students' lack of cooperation are the themes of the organizer. Each organizing theme also consists of several inclusive themes that include changes in teaching style and teaching and being time consuming; Challenges of university infrastructures, faculty facilities, student facilities and basic infrastructures; Failure of taking e-learning seriously, neglect of the classroom, and unreasonable expectations of students are among the basic themes that participants cited as a challenge to e-learning during the Corona era. Finally, virtual education and e-classroom which had not been considered in Iranian universities, since the arrival of this virus became the center of attention, which faced many challenges due to this issue. Identifying challenges is the first step is to resolve it so that affiliated organizations can take steps in this direction.