Abstract
This study aimed to examine university students' insights and observations concerning the technological barriers and difficulties they encountered in the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) during the COVID-19 Emergency Remote Learning (ERL). This research employed a qualitative phenomenological approach as the method of inquiry. The study included eighty university students, who studied at the Faculty of Education at a state university in Jakarta, Indonesia. Data were collected through a two-week daily journal, the students' reflective essays and an online focus group discussion. The study revealed the technology barriers and challenges in using ICT included: device issues, internet connectivity, technology costs, and lack of technology skills. Students also had problems with: incompatible devices, sharing devices with other family members, unstable internet connection, restricted or unavailable internet access, data costs, purchasing new devices, new programs or apps, inexperience with ICT, lack of ICT skills, and inadequate learning platforms. The findings of this research are useful for improving students' learning experience and access during these challenging times. COVID-19 is a recent phenomenon; it is novel to research the case, and this research offers both practical and theoretical measures to help improve ERL in the future.
Highlights
COVID-19 has changed the habits and lives of people [1]–[4]
In the absence of vaccines, most nations responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by promptly implementing measures to contain public health, known as non-pharmaceutical interventions [5]–[7]
As schools are supposed to be a place where people gather, and infectious diseases could spread, many countries are rapidly and drastically adopting the school closing strategy to restrict the transmission of COVID-19 within society
Summary
COVID-19 has changed the habits and lives of people [1]–[4]. The sheer magnitude of the issue has troubled people and societies at large, and they need an urgent and long-term commitment to dealing with the situation. It is suggested that quarantine, social distancing, the isolation of infected populations, travel restrictions and school closures could all be key parameters essential to help control the current global infectious crisis [8]–[11]. Quarantine is the isolation and enforced movement restriction of people, who may have been confirmed with an infectious disease, to assess if they are unwell, reducing their risk of infecting others [12], [13]. Social distancing is a public health strategy intended to discourage sick people from coming into direct contact with healthy people to minimize their disease spreading potential [14]– [16]. As schools are supposed to be a place where people gather, and infectious diseases could spread, many countries are rapidly and drastically adopting the school closing strategy to restrict the transmission of COVID-19 within society
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