Challenges of Online Learning Faced by IIUM Malay Undergraduates during COVID-19: A Case Study
Keywords:
Online learning challenges, internet connection, social interaction, devices, distracting environments, mental and physical issuesAbstract
This study examined the challenges of online learning faced by Malay undergraduate students studying at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) during the global pandemic of COVID-19. The study used a qualitative research technique and face-to-face semi-structured interviews for collecting data. The interview includes details about the participants' demographics, backgrounds, and the key study-related questions. Furthermore, the research employed open-ended questions to prompt participants to openly discuss their experiences without being restricted by predetermined responses. Participants were provided with information sheets and email consent forms before the interview session. Ten IIUM undergraduates were chosen using the purposive sample approach. Six females and four males participated in the research, and they were Malay students from Malaysia. The data was transcribed word for word into a Microsoft Word document and then classified into themes, analysed, interpreted, and validated. The results of the study showed that the students faced challenges in terms of internet connection, technological devices, social interaction, learning environment, and physical and mental health. The paper highlights the challenges of online learning encountered by Malay undergraduates studying at IIUM during COVID-19 pandemic. The new learning method was implemented in unprecedented global circumstances. Students remained at home, which became an alternative learning environment. Meanwhile, they went through some negative situations affecting the learning process. This paper presents and discusses five challenges and supports the findings by citing previous studies. The research results provide concerned agencies, like the Malaysian Ministry of Education, with a sociological understanding of the challenges involved in e-learning. They identify to what extent the available infrastructure for information and communication needs expansions and improvements to overcome internet access limitations in rural and urban areas. Furthermore, the research offers insight into the necessary initiatives that the Ministry of Higher Education in Malaysia should undertake to help in reducing the challenges facing higher education students.
References
Adarkwah, M. A. (2021). “I’m not against online teaching, but what about us?”: ICT in Ghana post Covid-19. Education and Information Technologies, 26(2), 1665–1685. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10639-020-10331-z
Azmat, M., & Ahmad, A. (2022). Lack of social interaction in online classes during Covid-19. Journal of Materials and Environmental Science, 13(2), 185–196. https://www.jmaterenvironsci.com/Document/vol13/vol13_N2/JMES-2022-13015-Azmat.pdf
Barrot, J. S., Llenares, I. I., & Del Rosario, L. S. (2021). Students’ online learning challenges during the pandemic and how they cope with them: The case of the Philippines. Education and Information Technologies, 26(6), 7321–7338. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10639-021-10589-x
Baticulon, R. E., Sy, J. J., Alberto, N. R. I., Baron, M. B. C., Mabulay, R. E. C., Rizada, L. G. T., ... & Reyes, J. C. B. (2021). Barriers to online learning in the time of Covid-19: A national survey of medical students in the Philippines. Medical Science Educator, 31(2), 615–626. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40670-021-01231-z
Cabual, R. A., & Cabual, M. M. A. (2022). The extent of the challenges in online learning during the Covid-19 pandemic. Open Access Library Journal, 9(1), 1–13. https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=114733
Chung, E., Subramaniam, G., & Dass, L. C. (2020). Online learning readiness among university students in Malaysia amidst Covid-19. Asian Journal of University Education, 16(2), 45–58.
Clabaugh, A., Duque, J. F., & Fields, L. J. (2021). Academic stress and emotional well-being in United States college students following onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 628787.
Dhawan, S. (2020). Online learning: A panacea in the time of Covid-19 crisis. Journal of educational technology systems, 49(1), 5–22.
Esra, M. E. Ş. E., & Sevilen, Ç. (2021). Factors influencing EFL students’ motivation in online learning: A qualitative case study. Journal of Educational Technology and Online Learning, 4(1), 11–22.
Farooq, F., Rathore, F. A., & Mansoor, S. N. (2020). Challenges of online medical education in Pakistan during Covid-19 pandemic. Journal of College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan, 30(6), 67–69.
Ferri, F., Grifoni, P., & Guzzo, T. (2020). Online learning and emergency remote teaching: Opportunities and challenges in emergency situations. Societies, 10(4), 1-18. https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/10/4/86
Gaol, F. L., & Hutagalung, F. (2020). The trends of blended learning in South East Asia. Education and Information Technologies, 25(2), 659–663.
Hashish, A., Aly, E., Baatiah, N. Y., Bashaweeh, A. H., & Kattan, A. M. (2022). The online learning experience and reported headaches associated with screen exposure time among Saudi health sciences students during the Covid-19 pandemic. BMC Medical Education, 22(1), 1–13.
Idris, F., Zulkipli, I. N., Abdul-Mumin, K. H., Ahmad, S. R., Mitha, S., Rahman, H. A., ... & Naing, L. (2021). Academic experiences, physical and mental health impact of Covid-19 pandemic on students and lecturers in health care education. BMC Medical Education, 21(1), 1–13.
Ilias, A., Baidi, N., Ghani, E. K., & Razali, F. M. (2020). Issues on the use of online learning: An exploratory study among university students during the Covid-19 pandemic. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 8(11), 5092–5105.
Irawan, A. W., Dwisona, D., & Lestari, M. (2020). Psychological impacts of students on online learning during the pandemic Covid-19. KONSELI: Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling (E-Journal), 7(1), 53–60.
Ismail, N. S., Bakar, N. A., & Wafa, S. W. W. S. S. T. (2020). Online learning challenges during pandemic COVID-19 in Malaysian higher learning institution. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 8(12), 7151–7159.
Jaradat, S., & Ajlouni, A. (2021). Undergraduates’ perspectives and challenges of online learning during the covid-19 pandemic: A case from the University of Jordan. Journal of Social Studies Education Research, 12(1), 149–173. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1292899.pdf
Jha, A., & Indiran, L. (2021). Merit and challenges of online teaching in India and Malaysia. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 10(2), 1110–1123.
Kapasia, N., Paul, P., Roy, A., Saha, J., Zaveri, A., Mallick, R., Barman, B., Das, Prabir., ... & Chouhan, P. (2020). Impact of lockdown on learning status of undergraduate and postgraduate students during Covid-19 pandemic in West Bengal, India. Children and Youth Services Review, 116, 105194 . https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7308748/
Khobragade, S. Y., Soe, H. H. K., Khobragade, Y. S., & bin Abas, A. L. (2021). Virtual learning during the Covid-19 pandemic: What are the barriers and how to overcome them?. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8552260/
Al-Kumaim, N. H., Mohammed, F., Gazem, N. A., Fazea, Y., Alhazmi, A. K., & Dakkak, O. (2021). Exploring the impact of transformation to fully online learning during Covid-19 on Malaysian university students' academic life and performance. International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies, 15(5), 140-158. https://online-journals.org/index.php/i-jim/article/view/20203
Mahyoob, M. (2020). Challenges of e-learning during the Covid-19 pandemic experienced by EFL learners. Arab World English Journal, 11(4). 351-362. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1287713.pdf
Mayadas, F. (1997). Asynchronous learning networks: A sloan foundation perspective. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 1(1), 1–16.
Ministry of Higher Education. (2019). National Education Philosophy. https://www.moe.gov.my/en/dasarmenu/falsafah-pendidikan-kebangsaan
Mustapha, R., Mahmud, M., Burhan, N. M., Awang, H., Sannagy, P. B., & Jafar, M. F. (2021). An exploration on online learning challenges in Malaysian higher education: The post COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, 12(7). 391-398.
Muthuprasad, T., Aiswarya, S., Aditya, K. S., & Jha, G. K. (2021). Students’ perception and preference for online education in India during Covid-19 pandemic. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 3(1), 100101.
Nassr, R. M., Aborujilah, A., Aldossary, D. A., & Aldossary, A. A. A. (2020). Understanding education difficulty during Covid-19 lockdown: Reports on Malaysian university students’ experience. IEEE Access, 8, 186939–186950.
Ramli, M. F., Majid, M., & Badyalina, B. (2020). Impeding factors towards the effectiveness of online learning during Covid-19 pandemic among social sciences students. International Journal of Learning and Development, 10(4), 37.
Rashid, M. A. A., Othman, M. N. A., & Yusop, Z. M. (2021). Online learning issues and challenges during Covid-19 pandemic: A case study at a private university college. International Journal of Advanced Research in Education and Society, 3(2), 50–57.
Rizvi, Y. S., & Nabi, A. (2021). Transformation of learning from real to virtual: An exploratorydescriptive analysis of issues and challenges. Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching & Learning ,14(1), 5-17.
Shahabadi, M. M., & Uplane, M. (2015). Synchronous and asynchronous E-learning styles and academic performance of E-learners. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 176, 129– 138. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042815004905
Subedi, S., Nayaju, S., Subedi, S., Shah, S. K., & Shah, J. M. (2020). Impact of E-learning during Covid-19pandemic among nursing students and teachers of Nepal. International Journal of Science and Healthcare Research, 5(3), 68–76.
Tanveer, M., Bhaumik, A., Hassan, S., & Haq, I. U. (2020). Covid-19 pandemic, outbreak educational sector and students online learning in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Entrepreneurship Education, 23(3), 1–14.
Wildman, J. L., Nguyen, D. M., Duong, N. S., & Warren, C. (2021). Student teamwork during Covid-19: Challenges, changes, and consequences. Small Group Research, 52(2), 119–134.
Wut, T. M., & Xu, J. (2021). Person-to-person interactions in online classroom settings under the impact of Covid-19: A social presence theory perspective. Asia Pacific Education Review, 22(3), 371–383. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12564-021-09673-1
Xhelili, P., Ibrahimi, E., Rruci, E., & Sheme, K. (2021). Adaptation and perception of online learning during Covid-19 pandemic by Albanian university students. International Journal on Studies in Education, 3(2), 103–111.
Yunus, N. A., & Eid, I. M. (2022). Coping strategies IIUM Malay undergraduate students adopted to proceed with online learning during COVID-19. IIUM Journal of Religion and Civilisational Studies, 5(2), 243-258.
Zainol, S. S., Hussin, S. M., Othman, M. S., & Zahari, N. H. M. (2021). Challenges of online learning faced by the B40 income parents in Malaysia. International Journal of Education and Pedagogy, 3(2), 45–52.
