Students’ and Teachers’ Perceptions of After School Online Course

This study analyzes students' and teachers' perceptions of after school online courses (ASOC)
undertaken by an institutional private middle school, which manages several campuses across
Turkey. The aim of ASOC is to support students when they are home by helping them to revise the
lessons, practice topics synchronously with hundreds of other students. The results of the survey,
interviews, and observations show that both students and teachers prefer face-to-face lessons to
online lessons. They think that ASOC can be effective only if it is implemented in small groups with
more interaction and sound instructional design with engaging methods and adequate feedback is
structured for students and teachers‘ needs. This study may contribute to similar future research
studies of online education in middle schools by revealing the upsides and downsides of this
blended learning environment with recommendations offered.