Online Learning Method in COVID-19 Pandemic: The Perspectives, Opportunities, and Challenges of Nursing Students in Aceh, Indonesia: An Exploratory Descriptive Study

Abstract

The Covid-19 virus pandemic caused a significant impact on communities’ life and their activities throughout the world. The Covid-19 pandemic also had a significant effect on the education system in Indonesia and requires all teaching and learning activities for students to be carried out by virtual or online learning method. Aim: This study was to explore online learning methods' perceptions, opportunities, and challenges in the COVID-19 pandemic among nursing students. Method: A descriptive explorative study was implemented with a cross-sectional design. The study was conducted on 276 nursing students in Aceh, Indonesia. The data were collected using a 5-point Likert scale and the standardized Online Learning Perception Scale (OLPS) and Opportunities and Challenges Online Learning (OCOL) questionnaires. The reliability test of the questionnaires were indicated by Cronbach alphas of 0.89 and 0.90, respectively. Result: The study results showed that 50.4% of the nursing students have positive perceptions about the online learning method, 51.4% of the students believe that online learning offers high opportunities, and 50.4% of students think that the online learning method is highly challenging. It showed more than 50% of the students have significant on the positive perceptions, high opportunities, and challenges in learning method. Conclusion: The positive perception, high opportunities, and challenges towards online learning methods among nursing students is the result of a study that proved the benefits of online learning methods which can be used as an alternative for students to achieve learning goals, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Positive perceptions from students towards online learning methods can be encouragement and strength for one of the online-based learning methods and could also be proven by the high opportunities and challenges students in this online learning method.