AN ASSESSMENT OF THE INTERNET ACCESS AND ACCESSIBILITY INITIATIVES ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ONLINE LEARNING AMONG STUDENTS AT HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

The spread of COVID-19 has shifted teaching and learning methods at all institutes of higher learning in Malaysia from traditional methods to online distance learning. To cope with this new teaching method, students face some difficulties. One of the most challenging is the lack of internet access and accessibility that constrains students’ engagement and motivation toward online distance learning. The unaffordability to purchase internet data and poor internet connectivity are common problems that have often been voiced by students, as this greatly affects their attendance, communication, and submission of each class assignment. To reduce the burden faced by the students, government and telecommunication services providers introduced some initiatives to enhance internet access and accessibility. Thus, this study aims to review the impacts of internet access and accessibility initiatives on the effectiveness of online learning during the COVID-19 era. The conceptual reviews will acknowledge the policymakers on the barriers faced by the students, the impact of internet initiatives on online learning, and the recommendations to improve current practices on internet access and accessibility, It can be used by the policymakers to provide relevant initiatives to assist teaching and learning among students.