Abstract

COVID-19 necessitated higher education institutions to adopt online learning for traditional undergraduate students. The implementation of online learning attained praise, especially from socially anxious students, yet it also enhanced hardships for others. The present study qualitatively explored undergraduate students’ attitudes toward online learning and the outcomes of the return to in-person learning on social anxiety. The sample comprised 1058 (Mage = 19.86, SD = 3.53 years) undergraduate students from Carleton University and the University of Waterloo. Results from thematic analysis revealed that most students preferred in-person learning for its numerous advantages including self-improvement, socialization, traditional university experience, and higher education quality. Moreover, a large proportion of respondents indicated traditional learning could hinder socially anxious students due to adjustments in course delivery, social connections, decreasing mental well-being, COVID-19 fears, and deficiencies in social skills. Findings will be discussed on strategies to support students using different learning modalities.

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