STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVES AND CHALLENGES OF ONLINE LEARNING AT DANANG UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY AND PHARMACY
Main Article Content
Abstract
Like many other countries, educational institutions in Vietnam were forced to shift their courses from a face-to-face approach to online classes during the Covid-19 pandemic to try to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The objectives of this study were to investigate students’ perceptions of online learning as well as to identify challenges of online learning they confronted. The study took a quantitative approach, using an online questionnaire on Google Forms to collect data from 631 undergraduate students at Danang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy in Danang, Vietnam. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results revealed that the participants perceived online learning as being useful and time-saving. However, the study revealed some challenges the students encountered, such as unreliable internet connections, poor e-learning platforms and services, a lack of information and communication technology skills, and distractions. Based on the findings, some implications on online learning have been put forward.
Article Details
Keywords
online learning, students’ perspectives, challenges, Covid-19
References
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Niemi, H. M., & Kousa, P. (2020). A case study of students’ and teachers’ perceptions in a Finnish high school during the COVID pandemic. International Journal of Technology in Education and Science (IJTES), 4(4), 352-369.
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Pham, D. B., & Dao, H. T. (2022). Attitude of Hanoi Medical University students about online learning during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021. Journal of Medical Research - Hanoi Medical University, 156(8).
Rababah, L. (2020). ICT obstacles and challenges faced by English language learners during the Coronavirus outbreak in Jordan. International Journal of Linguistics, 12(3), 28-36. https://doi.org/10.5296/ijl.v12i3.17048
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Ramachandran, R., & Rodriguez, M. (2020). Student perspectives on remote learning in a large organic chemistry lecture course. Journal of Chemical Education, 97(9), 2565-2572.
Roper, A. (2007). How students develop online learning skills. Educause Quarterly, 30(1), 62.
Singh, V., & Thurman, A. (2019). How many ways can we define online learning? A systematic literature review of definitions of online learning (1988-2018). American Journal of Distance Education, 33(4), 289-306.
Tu, N. P., & Luong, P. T. (2021). Online language learning via Moodle and Microsoft Teams: Students' challenges and suggestions for improvement. In V. P. H. Pham, A. B. Lian & A. P. Lian, T. H. Phan, H. L. Nguyen, H. L. Do, T. N. L. Tran, T. C. T. Ngo, P. A. Do, N. H. V. Nguyen, H. M. P. Nguyen, T. M. Nguyen, Q. T. Le (Eds.), Advances in social science, education and humanities research, volume 533: Proceedings of the 17th International Conference of the Asia Association of Computer-Assisted Language Learning (AsiaCALL 2021) (pp. 106-113). Atlantis Press.
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United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. [UNESCO] (n.d.). Education: From school closure to recovery. https://en.unesco.org/themes/education-emergencies/coronavirus-school-closures
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 (IJonSE), 3(2), 103-111. https://doi.org/10.46328/ijonse.49
Yilmaz, A. B. (2019). Distance and face-to-face students' perceptions towards distance education: A comparative metaphorical study. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education-TOJDE, 20(1), Article 12. https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.522705
Zhu, Y., Zhang, J., Au, W., & Yates, G. (2020). University students' online learning attitudes and continuous intention to undertake online courses: A self-regulated learning perspective. Educational Technology Research and Development, 68(3), 1485-1519.
Adnan, M., & Anwar, K. (2020). Online learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic: Students' perspectives. Online Submission, 2(1), 45-51.
Agarwal, S., & Kaushik, J. S. (2020). Student’s perception of online learning during COVID pandemic. Indian Journal of Pediatrics, 87(7), 554. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-020-03327-7
Almaiah, M., Al-Khasawneh, A., & Althunibat, A. (2020). Exploring the critical challenges and factors influencing the e-learning system usage during COVID-19 pandemic. Education and Information Technologies, 1(6), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-020-10219-y
Amir, L., Tanti, I., Maharani, D., Wimardhani, Y., Julia, V., Sulijaya, B., & Puspitawati, R. (2020). Student perspective of classroom and distance learning method during Covid-19 pandemic in the undergraduate dental study program. BMC Medical Education, 20(1), 392.
Ananga, P. (2020). Pedagogical considerations of e-learning in education for development in the face of Covid-19. International Journal of Technology in Education and Science, 4(4), 310-321.
Crawford, J., Butler-Henderson, K., Rudolph, J., Malkawi, B., Glowatz, M., Burton, R., & Lam, S. (2020). COVID-19: 20 countries’ higher education intra-period digital pedagogy responses. Journal of Applied Learning and Teaching, 3(1), 9-28. https://doi.org/10.37074/jalt.2020.3.1.7
Dang, H. T., Nguyen, Q. T., Doan, H. L., Nguyen, T. T., & Tran, T. H. (2020). Barrier factors in online learning at Faculty of Tourism - Hue University. Hue University Journal of Science: Economic and Development issue, 129(5C), 61-68.
ElSaheli-Elhage, R. (2021). Access to students and parents and levels of preparedness of educators during the Covid-19 emergency transition to e-learning. International Journal on Studies in Education, 3(2), 61-69.
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. http://doi.org/10.29271/jcpsp.2020.Supp1.S67
Hartnett, M. (2016). The importance of motivation in online learning. In M. Hartnett (Ed.), Motivation in online education (pp. 5-32). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0700-2_2
Kaur, G. (2020). Digital life: Boon or bane in teaching sector on COVID-19. CLIO an Annual Interdisciplinary Journal of History, 6(6), 416-427.
Khoa, A. V., & Nguyen, K. L. (2021). Online learning readiness level of first and second year students at Faculty of English Language Teacher Education, VNU University of Languages and International Studies. VNU Journal of Foreign Studies, 37(6), 168-191. https://doi.org/10.25073/2525-2445/vnufs.4430
Kim, J. (2020). Learning and teaching online during Covid-19: Experiences of student teachers in an early childhood education practicum. International Journal of Early Childhood, 52, 145-158. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13158-020-00272-6
Koi-Akrofi, G., Owusu-Oware, E., & Tanye, H. (2020). Challenges of distance, blended, and online learning: A literature-based approach. International Journal on Integrating Technology in Education, 9(4), 17-39.
Kost, C. (2004). An investigation of the effects of synchronous computer-mediated communication (CMC) on interlanguage development in beginning learners of German: Accuracy, proficiency, and communication strategies [Doctoral dissertation, The University of Arizona].
McCorkle, W. (2020). Problematizing immigration restrictions during COVID-19 in the social studies classroom. Research in Social Sciences and Technology, 5(3), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.46303/ressat.05.03.1
Nambiar, D. (2020). The impact of online learning during Covid-19: Students' and teachers' perspective. The International Journal of Indican Psychology, 8(2), 783-793.
Nguyen, H. D., Nguyen, H. N., Tran, U. T., Nguyen, L. H., & Le, L. C. (2022). Student's attitudes towards interactivity in English language online learning in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic: Exploratory research at a university in Vietnam. Vietnam Journal of Education, 22(16), 60-64.
Nguyen, L. V., & Pham, A. T. (2021). Using synchronous online discussion to develop EFL learners' productive skills: A case study. The Journal of Asia TEFL, 18(1), 179-207.
Niemi, H. M., & Kousa, P. (2020). A case study of students’ and teachers’ perceptions in a Finnish high school during the COVID pandemic. International Journal of Technology in Education and Science (IJTES), 4(4), 352-369.
Owusu-Fordjour, C., Koomson, C., & Hanson, D. (2020). The impact of Covid-19 on learning - The perspective of the Ghanaian student. European Journal of Education Studies, 7(3), 88-101. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3753586
Paudel, P. (2021). Online education: Benefits, challenges and strategies during and after COVID-19 in higher education. International Journal on Studies in Education (IJonSE), 3(2), 70-85.
Pham, D. B., & Dao, H. T. (2022). Attitude of Hanoi Medical University students about online learning during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021. Journal of Medical Research - Hanoi Medical University, 156(8).
Rababah, L. (2020). ICT obstacles and challenges faced by English language learners during the Coronavirus outbreak in Jordan. International Journal of Linguistics, 12(3), 28-36. https://doi.org/10.5296/ijl.v12i3.17048
Rajab, M., Gazal, A., & Alkattan, K. (2020). Challenges to online medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cureus, 12(7).
Ramachandran, R., & Rodriguez, M. (2020). Student perspectives on remote learning in a large organic chemistry lecture course. Journal of Chemical Education, 97(9), 2565-2572.
Roper, A. (2007). How students develop online learning skills. Educause Quarterly, 30(1), 62.
Singh, V., & Thurman, A. (2019). How many ways can we define online learning? A systematic literature review of definitions of online learning (1988-2018). American Journal of Distance Education, 33(4), 289-306.
Tu, N. P., & Luong, P. T. (2021). Online language learning via Moodle and Microsoft Teams: Students' challenges and suggestions for improvement. In V. P. H. Pham, A. B. Lian & A. P. Lian, T. H. Phan, H. L. Nguyen, H. L. Do, T. N. L. Tran, T. C. T. Ngo, P. A. Do, N. H. V. Nguyen, H. M. P. Nguyen, T. M. Nguyen, Q. T. Le (Eds.), Advances in social science, education and humanities research, volume 533: Proceedings of the 17th International Conference of the Asia Association of Computer-Assisted Language Learning (AsiaCALL 2021) (pp. 106-113). Atlantis Press.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. [UNESCO] (2020, March 24). COVID-19. Educational disruption and response. https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/covid-19-educational-disruption-and-response
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. [UNESCO] (n.d.). Education: From school closure to recovery. https://en.unesco.org/themes/education-emergencies/coronavirus-school-closures
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 (IJonSE), 3(2), 103-111. https://doi.org/10.46328/ijonse.49
Yilmaz, A. B. (2019). Distance and face-to-face students' perceptions towards distance education: A comparative metaphorical study. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education-TOJDE, 20(1), Article 12. https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.522705
Zhu, Y., Zhang, J., Au, W., & Yates, G. (2020). University students' online learning attitudes and continuous intention to undertake online courses: A self-regulated learning perspective. Educational Technology Research and Development, 68(3), 1485-1519.