University Students’ Experiences with Distance and Face-to-Face Education After The February 6th Earthquakes

As a result of the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes on 6 February 2023, over 50,000 people lost their lives and hundreds of thousands were forced to leave their homes. Education was also severely affected by the earthquake, which has been described as the disaster of the century. Universities initially suspended education, and subsequently, universities in the province of Kahramanmaraş decided to switch from face-to-face to distance learning, and Distance learning has lasted for more than a year. This research aimed to examine the effects of this transition from in-person to distance learning from the students' perspective. The study was conducted using a phenomenological design within the framework of qualitative research paradigms. Data was collected through structured interview forms and subjected to thematic analysis. Fifteen individuals were interviewed face-to-face, and seven different themes were identified: "Disadvantages of Distance Learning," "Advantages of Distance Learning," "Environmental Conditions," "Searching for Solutions," "Attitudes of Academics," "Motivation for In-Person Education," and "Choosing Teaching Methods." The results were discussed within a literature review, and various recommendations were made to education stakeholders and field workers.