Undergraduates’ Perception, Engagement and Learning Experience in Online Learning amid Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Due to the physical separation of lecturers and learners, many students have expressed dissatisfaction with their online learning experience. The growing prevalence of online education highlights the imperative to explore the factors influencing students’ online experience. This study aims to explore the relationships between undergraduate students’ perception, engagement and experiences in online learning. Employing a quantitative design, a cluster sampling technique was utilised to select a representative sample of 609 undergraduate students from various degree courses across four public and private universities in Malaysia. The survey questionnaires, derived from the Online Learning Perception Scale, Engagement in Online Learning Scale and Community of Inquiry Survey, were administered through internet survey. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to analyse the data. Findings revealed that students’ perceptions of online learning and online engagements both directly affect their online learning experiences. The results also showed that students’ perception of learning directly contributes to their online learning experience. Students’ online engagement mediates the relationship between students’ perception and their online learning experience. Recommendations for future studies and limitations of the study were also discussed.