Students Satisfaction with Online Learning Experiences during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Norah Almusharraf,Shabir Khahro

doi:10.3991/ijet.v15i21.15647

Abstract

This research aims to evaluate the level of postsecondary student satisfaction with online learning platforms and learning experiences during the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). This paper is based on the premise of transformative learning theories [1], which describe the learners’ authority and investment over their learning. Quantitative research was carried out using a survey that was sent out to 283 students enrolled at one higher education institution in KSA. These data were analyzed using SPSS. Average Mean Score (AMS) was used for data analysis, where the results are validated using the Standard Deviation (SD), Skewness and Kurtosis test, and Cronbach Alpha test. The research findings revealed that the students are satisfied with the university staff and faculty members who agreed on specific online platforms to use, grading system, assessment options, training workshops, online technical support, and more. The research findings also showed that participants were highly satisfied with Google Hangouts the most for lecture delivery, followed by Google Classroom and LMS (Moodle) for course management and assessments. With only respect to the students’ online learning experiences, the COVID-19 situation within this study context was handled adequately. This study calls for further research into the integration of professional development workshops and practical training courses for online learning and teaching to endorse innovative teaching techniques and alternative assessment plans for instructors, learners, administrators, and policymakers.

Highlights

An emergency public health international concern has caused most higher education institutions worldwide to precipitously close in late March 2020 to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic [2]
This study explored the effectiveness of these teaching and learning experiences through students’ perceptions of the actions taken by instructors, staff members, and the institution during online teaching
This study concludes that the students are satisfied with the university staff and faculty members who created a unified vision after COVID-19 in which they agreed on specific platforms to use, grading system, assessment options, training workshops, and online technical support

Summary

Introduction

An emergency public health international concern has caused most higher education institutions worldwide to precipitously close in late March 2020 to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic [2]. Because of these closures, universities were required to use online teaching platforms, regardless of students’ and teachers’ level of expertise in technological competencies and preparedness [3]. In an online learning setting, learners are given specific channels to interact independently and collaboratively between learners and instructors. Learners were given opportunities to collaborate in Synchronous Computer‐Mediated Communication (SCMC) in language learning in which their interaction between two or more learners concurrently transfer through a computer [28]. Within Collaborative learning, groups of learners collaborate to build a project, assess a development, or complete a mission

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Conclusion