Perspectives on challenges associated with the adoption of online teaching and learning in practical subjects

The rapid development of technology has significantly transformed the field of education, particularly with the integration of Online Teaching and Learning (OTL) facilitated by Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). However, some disciplines, such as Consumer Studies (CS), have encountered distinctive challenges due to their specialised nature as a practical subject. Furthermore, there is limited literature on the effectiveness of OTL in practical subjects such as CS. Hence, the paper aims to investigate the challenges associated with the adoption of OTL in practical subjects similar to CS. The study conducted a bibliometric study in which literature was drawn from electronic databases covering topics such as OTL pedagogy, challenges in practical subject implementation of OTL, and teachers' perspectives on OTL.As a result, 17 publications were chosen to meet the study's aim. Based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology, the study reveals that practical subjects like CS demand robust facilitation, relevant pedagogical approaches, and sufficient online resources for effective adoption and implementation of OTL. Furthermore, It is recommended that policymakers revise the practical subject’s curriculum to incorporate strategies tailored for OTL. Additionally, the government needs to support schools by providing them with the required resources to ensure the successful adoption of OTL.