This study explores the impact of the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework on teaching strategies employed by lecturers during online classes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Using CoI as its foundation, the research focused on five lecturers as respondents, with interviews serving as the primary data collection method. The findings revealed that lecturers faced numerous challenges in maintaining student engagement, including difficulties in fostering social presence, ensuring cognitive engagement, and sustaining effective teaching presence. Despite these challenges, the study highlights the potential of CoI-informed strategies to create meaningful and interactive online learning environments, underscoring the need for enhanced institutional support.
Anderson, T., Rourke, L., Garrison, D. R., & Archer, W. (2001). Assessing teaching presence in a computer conferencing context. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 5(2), 1–17.
Chung, E., Noor, N. M., & Mathew, V. N. (2020). Are you ready? An assessment of online learning readiness among university students. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 9(1), 301–317. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARPED/v9-i1/7128
Cohen, J., & Kahne, J. (2021). The COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges of remote learning. Journal of Educational Psychology, 113(4), 657–674.
Dewey, J. (1993). How we think. D.C. Heath & Co Publishers.
Dohaney, J., Róiste, M., Salmon, R. A., & Sutherland, K. (2020). Benefits, barriers, and incentives for improved resilience to disruption in university teaching. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 50, Article 101691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101691
Garrison, D. R., Anderson, T., & Archer, W. (2000). Critical inquiry in a text-based environment: Computer conferencing in higher education. The Internet and Higher Education, 2(2–3), 87–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1096-7516(00)00016-6
Jiang, M., Huang, R., & Zhang, Y. (2020). The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on teachers and students. Journal of Educational Research and Practice, 10(2), 74–88.
Kanuka, H., & Garrison, D. R. (2004). Cognitive presence in asynchronous learning networks: A review of the research. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 8(3), 21–35.
Lowenthal, P. R., & Dunlap, J. C. (2018). Social presence in online learning: Enhancing engagement and retention. Distance Education, 39(2), 137–152. https://doi.org/10.1080/01587919.2018.1476842
Martin, F., & Bolliger, D. U. (2018). Engagement matters: Student perceptions on the importance of engagement strategies in the online learning environment. Online Learning, 22(1), 205–222. https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v22i1.1092
Milman, N. B. (2020). The shift to online learning during the pandemic: Reflections and recommendations. Journal of Digital Learning in Teacher Education, 36(4), 258–261. https://doi.org/10.1080/21532974.2020.1814686
Nouri, J., Fathi, J., & Sjöberg, M. (2021). The impact of COVID-19 on teaching and learning: Teachers’ perceptions. Computers in Human Behavior, 118, 106684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2020.106684
Petrie, C. (2020). Current digital platforms for remote education. Global Education Report.
Pokhrel, S., & Chhetri, R. (2021). A literature review on the impact of COVID-19 on online teaching and learning. Higher Education for the Future, 8(1), 133–141. https://doi.org/10.1177/2347631120983481
Swan, K., & Shih, L. F. (2005). On the nature and development of social presence in online course discussions. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 9(3), 115–136.
Thompson, K., & MacDonald, C. (2005). Building social cohesion in online communities. Online Learning Review Journal, 10(2), 57–69.
Truu, M. (2020). LMS adoption during COVID-19: A case study. Education Technology Insights.
UNESCO. (2020). Education: From disruption to recovery. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Winter, J., & Costello, R. (2021). The challenges of unpreparedness: Adapting teaching strategies in a pandemic. Journal of Teaching Innovations, 7(1), 45–59.
Kanthan, N. C., & Balraj, B. M. (2025). Challenges Faced by Lecturers in Adapting to Online Teaching During COVID-19: A Focus on the Community of Inquiry (COI) Framework. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 15(1), 177–184.
Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
Published by Knowledge Words Publications (www.kwpublications.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode