Anxiety Index of Students in Online Distance Learning (ODL) and Physical Class in a Public Education System in Malaysia

Abstract

Online Distance learning (ODL) has changed the facade of teaching and learning during the Covid-19 pandemic. Educational institutions worldwide had to make drastic changes from the traditional Face to Face (F2F) method to going fully online and Malaysia was no exception. This paper shares findings of a research examining the anxiety levels experienced by tertiary students in a public university in ODL. 386 tertiary students from a public university were involved in this study. Methodology involved to select the sample is snowball sampling and the online survey as a data collection method. Zung’s Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) questionnaire as a research instrument. Paired sample t-test and multiple linear regression was used to analyse the data. The objectives of the study was to examine differences in anxiety levels of students between F2F and ODL and to determine the factors that affect the anxiety levels during ODL . Results of the study revealed that the anxiety index of students during ODL is much higher than during physical learning (M = 52.57, SD = 13.74) compared to ODL (M = 56.74, SD = 13.16), t (385) = -9.388, p = 0.000. It was found that gender (b = 4.361, p = 0.005), age (b = 0.111, p = 0.03) and technology skills problems (b = 3.099, p = 0.035) affect the anxiety levels during ODL. Male students had fewer problems with technology and experienced a lower anxiety level compared to female students. In addition, students who are not familiar with computers and multimedia applications faced more anxiety than those who are familiar with it. As online learning seems to be the new norm in education today, it is recommended that students are exposed more to learn applications and software to reduce their level of anxiety. Future studies should examine physical and mental readiness for ODL as well as the role of institutions in facilitating ODL for their students.