A Mixed Method Study of Students' Experiences with Online and Distance Learning During the Covid-19 Pandemic in Malaysia

Abstract

Many people have been affected by the pandemic, particularly those in the education sector, which has seen higher education institutions shut down to prevent infection. During the closure, online and distant learning was implemented, and it has been ongoing since 2019. This new approach of disseminating information requires both instructors and learners to conform to the most recent teaching and learning process norm. The purposes of this study were to investigate ESL learners' attitudes toward online learning and the impact of online learning on them. The study's significant contribution could be to help instructors better understand how learners interact in the online classroom so that they can create the most appropriate teaching materials to fit their needs. Understanding their preferred method of learning would lead to increased engagement and improved learning results. Because of the growing importance of online learning management systems, this study could help to improve the quality of university education by studying how learners use it for online learning in their studies. The study adopted the mixed-method research design to survey 152 ESL undergraduates and interview ten of the respondents at a Malaysian public university. The findings revealed that many of the respondents were satisfied with their online language classes and felt at ease conversing in this situation. Many were unsure whether online learning was motivating, and half of them believed that online classes encouraged participation. However, several of the respondents struggled to complete group work since it was difficult for them to get to know one another. When given the option, most of them would prefer to learn in a face-to-face setting. This research would assist instructors in determining the most effective online teaching style and foster better empathy for students who face challenges beyond their control. This study is limited to undergraduate learners at a Malaysian public university. The closure of universities has a substantial impact on all institutions of higher learning. As a result, students all around the world face the same obstacles, but under different circumstances. Future research should focus on understanding how different higher education institutions in other countries contribute to online learning success. Besides, future research could examine into how learners view online learning during the pandemic and how it affects their ability to adapt and recover from learning setbacks. Instructors may be able to use the findings of this study to better understand students' perspectives and attitudes toward online learning, as well as to solve problems linked to online learning.