Means to cope with difficulties related to online learning experience during the pandemic, crisis of public health

Abstract

Higher education organizations worldwide, including those in South Korea, are currently facing a major global health crisis caused by coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) since the spring 2020 semester. This study aimed at determining the difficulties perceived by college students in online courses, what strategies they use to cope with the problems they encounter, and what policies they demand the university to implement to enhance the situations. Six students (both undergraduate and graduate) from a university in a metropolitan area in South Korea participated in a series of focus group interview (FGI) sessions. The study conducted its sessions on October 11, 14, 21, and 22, 2021 in the university. Due to the distinct features of the online learning environment, students reported that they have major difficulties in staying academically motivated, suffer from fatigue and boredom, and have a hard time utilizing studying strategies. To cope with the current situation, the results revealed that students voluntarily form study group sessions with peers, and demand the university to provide them with a series of psychological therapy sessions as well as group study sessions.