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School Climate

45 survey questions to understand student engagement in online learning.

In our work with K-12 school districts during the COVID-19 pandemic, countless district leaders and school administrators have told us how challenging it's been to build student engagement outside of the traditional classroom.

Not only that, but the challenges associated with online learning may have the largest impact on students from marginalized communities. Research suggests that some groups of students experience more difficulty with academic performance and engagement when course content is delivered online vs. face-to-face.

As you look to improve the online learning experience for students, take a moment to understand how students, caregivers, and staff are currently experiencing virtual learning. Where are the areas for improvement? How supported do students feel in their online coursework? Do teachers feel equipped to support students through synchronous and asynchronous facilitation? How confident do families feel in supporting their children at home?

Below, we've compiled a bank of 45 questions to understand student engagement in online learning. Interested in running a student, family, or staff engagement survey? Click here to learn about Panorama's survey analytics platform for K-12 school districts.

Download Toolkit: 9 Virtual Learning Resources to Engage Students, Families, and Staff

45 Questions to Understand Student Engagement in Online Learning

For students (grades 3-5 and 6-12):.

1. How excited are you about going to your classes?

2. How often do you get so focused on activities in your classes that you lose track of time?

3. In your classes, how eager are you to participate?

4. When you are not in school, how often do you talk about ideas from your classes?

5. Overall, how interested are you in your classes?

6. What are the most engaging activities that happen in this class?

7. Which aspects of class have you found least engaging?

8. If you were teaching class, what is the one thing you would do to make it more engaging for all students?

9. How do you know when you are feeling engaged in class?

10. What projects/assignments/activities do you find most engaging in this class?

11. What does this teacher do to make this class engaging?

12. How much effort are you putting into your classes right now?

13. How difficult or easy is it for you to try hard on your schoolwork right now?

14. How difficult or easy is it for you to stay focused on your schoolwork right now?

15. If you have missed in-person school recently, why did you miss school?

16. If you have missed online classes recently, why did you miss class?

17. How would you like to be learning right now?

18. How happy are you with the amount of time you spend speaking with your teacher?

19. How difficult or easy is it to use the distance learning technology (computer, tablet, video calls, learning applications, etc.)?

20. What do you like about school right now?

21. What do you not like about school right now?

22. When you have online schoolwork, how often do you have the technology (laptop, tablet, computer, etc) you need?

23. How difficult or easy is it for you to connect to the internet to access your schoolwork?

24. What has been the hardest part about completing your schoolwork?

25. How happy are you with how much time you spend in specials or enrichment (art, music, PE, etc.)?

26. Are you getting all the help you need with your schoolwork right now?

27. How sure are you that you can do well in school right now?

28. Are there adults at your school you can go to for help if you need it right now?

29. If you are participating in distance learning, how often do you hear from your teachers individually?

For Families, Parents, and Caregivers:

30 How satisfied are you with the way learning is structured at your child’s school right now?

31. Do you think your child should spend less or more time learning in person at school right now?

32. How difficult or easy is it for your child to use the distance learning tools (video calls, learning applications, etc.)?

33. How confident are you in your ability to support your child's education during distance learning?

34. How confident are you that teachers can motivate students to learn in the current model?

35. What is working well with your child’s education that you would like to see continued?

36. What is challenging with your child’s education that you would like to see improved?

37. Does your child have their own tablet, laptop, or computer available for schoolwork when they need it?

38. What best describes your child's typical internet access?

39. Is there anything else you would like us to know about your family’s needs at this time?

For Teachers and Staff:

40. In the past week, how many of your students regularly participated in your virtual classes?

41. In the past week, how engaged have students been in your virtual classes?

42. In the past week, how engaged have students been in your in-person classes?

43. Is there anything else you would like to share about student engagement at this time?

44. What is working well with the current learning model that you would like to see continued?

45. What is challenging about the current learning model that you would like to see improved?

Elevate Student, Family, and Staff Voices This Year With Panorama

Schools and districts can use Panorama’s leading survey administration and analytics platform to quickly gather and take action on information from students, families, teachers, and staff. The questions are applicable to all types of K-12 school settings and grade levels, as well as to communities serving students from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds.

In the Panorama platform, educators can view and disaggregate results by topic, question, demographic group, grade level, school, and more to inform priority areas and action plans. Districts may use the data to improve teaching and learning models, build stronger academic and social-emotional support systems, improve stakeholder communication, and inform staff professional development.

To learn more about Panorama's survey platform, get in touch with our team.

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80+ Remote Learning Survey Questions for Students, Teachers, and Parents

Pragadeesh Natarajan

Last Updated: 23 May 2024

Table Of Contents

Distance learning survey questions for Students
Distance learning survey questions for Teachers
Distance learning survey questions for Parents

Are you a school or university that’s transitioned to remote learning (or distance learning) during the Covid-19 pandemic? Looking to measure the effectiveness and experience of remote education? Remote learning (or distance learning) surveys can help! Remote learning survey questions help you improve student engagement and understand the challenges associated with remote learning. For example, the employees may want to customize the training schedules based on the shift plans . Or they may want to add case studies and simulations that they can solve as a team. A survey is a great way to create an effective remote training program.

In this article, we’ve put together a list of the 80 best remote learning survey questions you can ask students, parents, and teachers to optimize and design effective learning experiences.

Here’s everything we’ll cover:

47 Remote Learning Survey Questions for Students

27 Remote Learning Survey Questions for Parents
13 Remote Learning Survey Questions for Teachers

Before we dive into questions, what if I tell you I am here to make your job easier? If you are looking for a questionnaire, here is this full-fledged remote learning survey that asks the right questions to get the right feedback from students.

Feel free to use this template to collect critical feedback from your students. You can also customize it according to your brand identity and send it as your branded survey. Sign up and check it for free.

Try our remote learning survey to test the conversational experience!

Preview Template

Now, off to remote learning survey questions…

Learn about your students’ challenges and the effectiveness of your remote learning programs and resources with our list of the best remote learning survey questions for students:

On a scale of 1 to 10, rate your overall remote learning experience.
How stressful is remote learning for you during the Covid-19 pandemic?
Is this remote learning program working for you?
Do you enjoy learning remotely?
How peaceful is the environment at home while learning remotely?
Are you able to keep up with the number of hours you committed to each week?
How well could you manage your time while learning remotely?
How well is the online curriculum working for you?
Are you satisfied with the technology and software you are using for remote learning?
How important is face-to-face communication for you while learning remotely?
How often do you talk to your {school/university name} classmates?
Do you have access to a device for learning online?
How often do you have 1-1 discussions with your teachers?
How helpful are your teachers while learning online?
What type of device do you use for remote learning? (smartphone, desktop, tablet, etc.)
How much time do you spend each day on remote learning?
How effective has remote learning been for you?
Why are you using remote learning?
Are there any challenges that might prevent you from staying?
How often do you hear from your teachers when learning remotely?
Are there teachers you can go to for help if you need it?
How helpful has {school or university name} been in providing you with the resources to learn from home?
How sure are you that you can do well?
Are you getting all the help you need with your coursework?
What has been the hardest part about completing your coursework?
How difficult or easy is it for you to connect to the internet to access your coursework?
When you have your online classes, how often do you have the technology (laptop, tablet, etc) you need?
What do you not like about your remote learning classes?
What do you like about your remote learning classes?
How difficult or easy is it to use remote learning technology (computer, video conferencing tools , online learning software, etc.)?
How difficult (or easy) is it to stay focused on your coursework?
What does this teacher do to make this class engaging?
How much effort are you putting into your online classes?
How difficult (or easy) is it to try hard on your coursework?
What projects or activities do you find the most engaging in this class?
How do you know when you are engaged in your online classes?
If you were teaching an online class yourself, what is the one thing you would do to make it more engaging?
Which aspects of your online class have you found the least engaging?
What are the most engaging activities that happen in this class?
How often are you so focused in your online classes that you lose track of time?
How eager are you to participate in your online classes?
If you have missed any online classes recently, why did you miss them?
How excited are you about attending your online classes?
Overall, how interested are you in your online classes?
How else would you like to be learning?
How happy are you with the amount of time you spend speaking with your teacher?
Do you have any suggestions for us? Anything you would like to see offered or done differently?

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27 Remote Learning Survey Questions for Teachers

To help your teachers give their best and succeed in remote learning, here are the top remote survey questions for teachers:

How stressful do you find teaching remotely during the pandemic?
How stressful are your students while learning remotely during the pandemic?
Are you enjoying teaching remotely?
How well could you maintain a work-life balance while teaching remotely?
How was your experience teaching your students from home as compared to teaching them at school?
Approximately how long has your work taken you each day?
How challenging has the work been for you?
Do you have access to a device for online teaching?
How many of your students regularly participated in your online classes in the past few weeks?
Do you have high-speed internet at home?
How helpful has {school or university name} been in offering you the resources to teach from home?
What device do you use for online teaching?
Are you satisfied with the technology and software you are using for online teaching?
How is {school or university name} delivering remote learning?
What kind of response have you received from your students so far?
How helpful have your coworkers been while teaching online?
What specific task have you found the most challenging?
How ideal is your home environment for teaching remotely?
Are your students learning better after switching to remote learning?
How often do you have 1-1 discussions with your students?
How helpful have parents been while supporting their children’s remote learning?
Is there anything you would like to share about student engagement?
How important is face-to-face communication for you while teaching remotely?
How engaged have students been in your online classes in the past few weeks?
What types of tasks have you found the most interesting and enjoyable?
How can {school or university name} support you further?
Do you have any suggestions to help improve the whole process of working from home?

Create student feedback surveys for Free. Make Learning more Effective.

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13 Remote Learning Survey Questions for Parents

Measure the parents’ or caregiver’s satisfaction with your online learning programs and more with our list of remote learning survey questions for parents:

Do all the members of your family work?
How soon would you like your child to return to in-person learning full-time?
How satisfied are you with the software and platforms used for remote learning?
What more can {school or university name} do to improve your child’s remote learning initiatives?
How concerned are you about your child’s social-emotional health and development?
How difficult or easy is it for your child to use remote learning tools and platforms?
Are you confident your child will make sufficient progress through remote learning?
How satisfied are you with the way your child’s course has been structured and delivered?
On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate the communication between students and teachers?
How confident are you in your ability to support your child’s remote education?
Does your child have the necessary tools available for coursework?
How confident are you that teachers can motivate students to learn effectively?
is there anything you would like us to know about your family’s needs or preferences?

Final thoughts

Remote or distance learning surveys can help provide you with all the insights you need to make necessary adjustments. The above questions will help you quickly gather and take action on feedback from students, teachers, and parents.

If you’re looking to create pleasant experiences and get more responses from your surveys, take the conversational way and give SurveySparrow a whirl today!

Have you got any questions on creating remote learning surveys? Got any tips or hacks for conducting effective distance learning surveys? Let us know in the comment section below.

Looking for a survey platform that makes it easy and effective to conduct remote learning surveys? Wondering whether SurveySparrow is the right fit for conducting distance learning surveys? Reach out to us for a free, personalized demo!

I'm a developer turned marketer, working as a Product Marketer at SurveySparrow — A survey tool that lets anyone create beautiful, conversational surveys people love to answer.

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A Systematic Review of the Research Topics in Online Learning During COVID-19: Documenting the Sudden Shift

Min Young Doo Kangwon National University http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3565-2159
Meina Zhu Wayne State University
Curtis J. Bonk Indiana University Bloomington

Since most schools and learners had no choice but to learn online during the pandemic, online learning became the mainstream learning mode rather than a substitute for traditional face-to-face learning. Given this enormous change in online learning, we conducted a systematic review of 191 of the most recent online learning studies published during the COVID-19 era. The systematic review results indicated that the themes regarding “courses and instructors” became popular during the pandemic, whereas most online learning research has focused on “learners” pre-COVID-19. Notably, the research topics “course and instructors” and “course technology” received more attention than prior to COVID-19. We found that “engagement” remained the most common research theme even after the pandemic. New research topics included parents, technology acceptance or adoption of online learning, and learners’ and instructors’ perceptions of online learning.

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Azizan, S. N., Lee, A. S. H., Crosling, G., Atherton, G., Arulanandam, B. V., Lee, C. E., &

Abdul Rahim, R. B. (2022). Online learning and COVID-19 in higher education: The value of IT models in assessing students’ satisfaction. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET), 17(3), 245–278. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v17i03.24871

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Bond, M., Bedenlier, S., Marín, V. I., & Händel, M. (2021). Emergency remote teaching in higher education: Mapping the first global online semester. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 18(1), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-021-00282-x

Bonk, C. J. (2020). Pandemic ponderings, 30 years to today: Synchronous signals, saviors, or survivors? Distance Education, 41(4), 589-599. https://doi.org/10.1080/01587919.2020.1821610

Bonk, C. J., & Graham, C. R. (Eds.) (2006). Handbook of blended learning: Global perspectives, local designs. Pfeiffer Publishing.

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Hamaidi, D. D. A., Arouri, D. Y. M., Noufal, R. K., & Aldrou, I. T. (2021). Parents’ perceptions of their children’s experiences with distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 22(2), 224-241. https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v22i2.5154

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VanLeeuwen, C. A., Veletsianos, G., Johnson, N., & Belikov, O. (2021). Never-ending repetitiveness, sadness, loss, and “juggling with a blindfold on:” Lived experiences of Canadian college and university faculty members during the COVID-19

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https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.13065

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Zawacki-Richter, O., Backer, E., & Vogt, S. (2009). Review of distance education research (2000 to 2008): Analysis of research areas, methods, and authorship patterns. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 10(6), 30. https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v10i6.741

Zhan, Z., Li, Y., Yuan, X., & Chen, Q. (2021). To be or not to be: Parents’ willingness to send their children back to school after the COVID-19 outbreak. The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-021-00610-9

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Distance learning survey for students: Tips & examples

Distance learning survey questions for students

The COVID-19 pandemic changed learning in many unprecedented ways. Students had to not just move to online learning but also keep a social distance from their friends and family. A student interest survey helps customize teaching methods and curriculum to make learning more engaging and relevant to students’ lives. It was quite challenging for some to adjust to the ‘new normal’ and missed the in-person interaction with their teachers. For some, it simply meant spending more time with the parents.

Schools need to know how students feel about distance education and learn more about their experiences. To collect data, they can send out a survey on remote learning for students. Once they have the results, the management team can know what students like in the existing setup and what they would like to change.

The classroom response system allowed students to answer multiple-choice questions and engage in real-time discussions instantly.

Here are the examples of class survey questions of distance learning survey for students you must ask to collect their feedback.

LEARN ABOUT: Testimonial Questions

Examples of distance learning survey questions for students

1. How do you feel overall about distance education?

Below Average

This question collects responses about the overall experience of the students regarding online education. Schools can use this data to decide whether they should continue with teaching online or move in-person learning.

2. Do you have access to a device for learning online?

Yes, but it doesn’t work well
No, I share with others

Students should have uninterrupted access to a device for learning online. Know if they face any challenges with the device’s hardware quality. Or if they share the device with others in the house and can’t access when they need it.

3. What device do you use for distance learning?

Know whether students use a laptop, desktop, smartphone, or tablet for distance learning. A laptop or desktop would be an ideal choice for its screen size and quality. You can use a multiple-choice question type in your questionnaire for distance education students.

4. How much time do you spend each day on an average on distance education?

Know how much time do students spend while taking an online course. Analyze if they are over-spending time and find out the reasons behind it. Students must allocate some time to play and exercise while staying at home to take care of their health. You can find out from answers to this question whether they spend time on other activities as well.

5. How effective has remote learning been for you?

Not at all effective
Slightly effective
Moderately effective
Very effective
Extremely effective

Depending on an individual’s personality, students may like to learn in the classroom with fellow students or alone at home. The classroom offers a more lively and interactive environment, whereas it is relatively calm at home. You can use this question to know if remote learning is working for students or not.

6. How helpful your [School or University] has been in offering you the resources to learn from home?

Not at all helpful
Slightly helpful
Moderately helpful
Very helpful
Extremely helpful

The school management teams need to offer full support to both teachers and students to make distance education comfortable and effective. They should provide support in terms of technological infrastructure and process framework. Given the pandemic situation, schools must allow more flexibility and create lesser strict policies.

7. How stressful is distance learning for you during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Studying in the time of pandemic can be quite stressful, especially if you or someone in the family is not doing well. Measure the stress level of the students and identify ways to reduce it. For instance, you can organize an online dance party or a lego game. The responses to this question can be crucial in deciding the future course of distance learning.

8. How well could you manage time while learning remotely? (Consider 5 being extremely well and 1 being not at all)

Academic schedule

Staying at home all the time and balancing multiple things can be stressful for many people. It requires students to have good time-management skills and self-discipline. Students can rate their experience on a scale of 1-5 and share it with the school authorities. Use a multiple-choice matrix question type for such questions in your distance learning questionnaire for students.

LEARN ABOUT: System Usability Scale

9. Do you enjoy learning remotely?

Yes, absolutely
Yes, but I would like to change a few things
No, there are quite a few challenges
No, not at all

Get a high-level view on whether students are enjoying learning from home or doing it because they are being forced to do so. Gain insights on how you can improve distance education and make it interesting for them.

10. How helpful are your teachers while studying online?

Distance education lacks proximity with teachers and has its own set of unique challenges. Some students may find it difficult to learn a subject and take more time to understand. This question measures the extent to which students find their teachers helpful.

You can also use a ready-made survey template to save time. The sample questionnaire for students can be easily customized as per your requirements.

USE THIS TEMPLATE

How to create a survey?

The intent behind creating a remote learning questionnaire for students should be to know how schools and teachers can better support them. Use an online survey software like ours to create a survey or use a template to get started. Distribute the survey through email, mobile app, website, or QR code.

Once you get the survey results, generate reports, and share them with your team. You can also download them in formats like .pdf, .doc, and .xls. To analyze data from multiple resources, you can integrate the survey software with third-party apps.

If you need any help with designing a survey, customizing the look and feel, or deriving insights from it, get in touch with us. We’d be happy to help.

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How Effective Is Online Learning? What the Research Does and Doesn’t Tell Us

Editor’s Note: This is part of a series on the practical takeaways from research.

The times have dictated school closings and the rapid expansion of online education. Can online lessons replace in-school time?

Clearly online time cannot provide many of the informal social interactions students have at school, but how will online courses do in terms of moving student learning forward? Research to date gives us some clues and also points us to what we could be doing to support students who are most likely to struggle in the online setting.

The use of virtual courses among K-12 students has grown rapidly in recent years. Florida, for example, requires all high school students to take at least one online course. Online learning can take a number of different forms. Often people think of Massive Open Online Courses, or MOOCs, where thousands of students watch a video online and fill out questionnaires or take exams based on those lectures.

In the online setting, students may have more distractions and less oversight, which can reduce their motivation.

Most online courses, however, particularly those serving K-12 students, have a format much more similar to in-person courses. The teacher helps to run virtual discussion among the students, assigns homework, and follows up with individual students. Sometimes these courses are synchronous (teachers and students all meet at the same time) and sometimes they are asynchronous (non-concurrent). In both cases, the teacher is supposed to provide opportunities for students to engage thoughtfully with subject matter, and students, in most cases, are required to interact with each other virtually.

Coronavirus and Schools

Online courses provide opportunities for students. Students in a school that doesn’t offer statistics classes may be able to learn statistics with virtual lessons. If students fail algebra, they may be able to catch up during evenings or summer using online classes, and not disrupt their math trajectory at school. So, almost certainly, online classes sometimes benefit students.

In comparisons of online and in-person classes, however, online classes aren’t as effective as in-person classes for most students. Only a little research has assessed the effects of online lessons for elementary and high school students, and even less has used the “gold standard” method of comparing the results for students assigned randomly to online or in-person courses. Jessica Heppen and colleagues at the American Institutes for Research and the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research randomly assigned students who had failed second semester Algebra I to either face-to-face or online credit recovery courses over the summer. Students’ credit-recovery success rates and algebra test scores were lower in the online setting. Students assigned to the online option also rated their class as more difficult than did their peers assigned to the face-to-face option.

Most of the research on online courses for K-12 students has used large-scale administrative data, looking at otherwise similar students in the two settings. One of these studies, by June Ahn of New York University and Andrew McEachin of the RAND Corp., examined Ohio charter schools; I did another with colleagues looking at Florida public school coursework. Both studies found evidence that online coursetaking was less effective.

About this series

This essay is the fifth in a series that aims to put the pieces of research together so that education decisionmakers can evaluate which policies and practices to implement.

The conveners of this project—Susanna Loeb, the director of Brown University’s Annenberg Institute for School Reform, and Harvard education professor Heather Hill—have received grant support from the Annenberg Institute for this series.

To suggest other topics for this series or join in the conversation, use #EdResearchtoPractice on Twitter.

Read the full series here .

It is not surprising that in-person courses are, on average, more effective. Being in person with teachers and other students creates social pressures and benefits that can help motivate students to engage. Some students do as well in online courses as in in-person courses, some may actually do better, but, on average, students do worse in the online setting, and this is particularly true for students with weaker academic backgrounds.

Students who struggle in in-person classes are likely to struggle even more online. While the research on virtual schools in K-12 education doesn’t address these differences directly, a study of college students that I worked on with Stanford colleagues found very little difference in learning for high-performing students in the online and in-person settings. On the other hand, lower performing students performed meaningfully worse in online courses than in in-person courses.

But just because students who struggle in in-person classes are even more likely to struggle online doesn’t mean that’s inevitable. Online teachers will need to consider the needs of less-engaged students and work to engage them. Online courses might be made to work for these students on average, even if they have not in the past.

Just like in brick-and-mortar classrooms, online courses need a strong curriculum and strong pedagogical practices. Teachers need to understand what students know and what they don’t know, as well as how to help them learn new material. What is different in the online setting is that students may have more distractions and less oversight, which can reduce their motivation. The teacher will need to set norms for engagement—such as requiring students to regularly ask questions and respond to their peers—that are different than the norms in the in-person setting.

Online courses are generally not as effective as in-person classes, but they are certainly better than no classes. A substantial research base developed by Karl Alexander at Johns Hopkins University and many others shows that students, especially students with fewer resources at home, learn less when they are not in school. Right now, virtual courses are allowing students to access lessons and exercises and interact with teachers in ways that would have been impossible if an epidemic had closed schools even a decade or two earlier. So we may be skeptical of online learning, but it is also time to embrace and improve it.

A version of this article appeared in the April 01, 2020 edition of Education Week as How Effective Is Online Learning?

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Managing attention and distractibility in online learning

Research-backed answers to some of the most commonly asked questions regarding attention and distractibility in the virtual classroom.

Learning and Memory
Perception and Attention
Schools and Classrooms

Young male student looking computer screen

This year, as COVID-19 disrupted traditional K–12 education, even the most experienced teachers felt suddenly thrown back into their first day, or first years, of teaching. Appearing in their virtual classrooms, many teachers found themselves looking at an array of squares on a screen, some with students looking back, some with a bare desktop and chair, some missing entirely. For many, this new environment felt foreign as their go-to strategies in the classroom setting did not seem to translate readily online. As a result, teachers were left with many questions and few clear answers.

Although the existing literature specific to virtual learning environments is limited, there is a robust research base on attention, engagement, distractibility, and learning in general, much of which can be adapted and applied in virtual settings. Below, we offer research-backed answers to some of the most commonly asked questions regarding attention and distractibility in the virtual classroom.

What do attention and engagement look like in an online environment?

In face-to-face settings, teachers typically rely on perceiving and responding to overt student behaviors as evidence of their attention. In an online setting, teachers may be able to see only a student’s head and shoulders at most, which limits the information available. In these circumstances, teachers must turn to other sources of input. In their 2011 book, “Creating the Opportunity to Learn,” Boykin and Noguera offer the following description for behavioral, cognitive, and affective engagement:

Behavioral engagement is “on task behavior.” In a virtual environment, on task behavior may include students’ commenting in the chat function, asking and answering questions, seeking and providing help to peers, and participating in collaborative discussions. Cognitive engagement refers to effort aimed at understanding complex material or learning challenging skills. In a virtual environment, cognitive engagement may include students showing that they are willing and able to take on a task even if it is challenging ( Corno & Mandinach, 1983 ), the extent to which they persist on a task regardless of its difficulty, and the strategies they employ to assist them while learning (Richardson & Newby, 2006 ). Affective engagement refers to students’ emotional reactions including showing interest in, curiosity about, or enjoyment of a task, communicating a positive attitude, and expressing the value, importance, or personal relevance of a task (Boykin & Noguera, 2011). When students are not affectively engaged, they are likely to show boredom, stress, or anxiety.

How do I know my students are paying attention and engaged while I’m teaching online or with online work?

How teachers know if their students are paying attention and engaged is an issue of assessment. The classroom assessment process begins with asking yourself, “What do I want to know about my students’ engagement?” To ensure representativeness, teachers can include questions on each of the types of engagement discussed previously. For example, one might ask, “Are my students persisting even when they encounter difficult work?” Or, “Do my students appear to be interested during class-wide discussions?”

After teachers establish what they want to know, the next step is to determine what might count as evidence to answer that particular question. For example, teachers may look for evidence of student persistence by observing what students do when they encounter hurdles or stumbling blocks. If students continue steadily working and adjust and adapt their plans as needed, it might serve as evidence of persistence.

Knowing what evidence to collect, however, is only half the battle. As teachers, it is also important to have a host of strategies and techniques to collect such evidence. Classroom assessment does little to affect student learning unless teachers use the information from assessment events to inform their next teaching steps or to craft feedback that moves learning forward. That is why it is imperative that teachers draw on their knowledge of the curriculum and typical learning trajectories to inform teaching and learning.

How can I structure my online teaching to best engage my students, and what strategies can I use to reengage students who are distracted?

Many of the strategies that teachers use to increase student engagement in face-to-face classrooms can also be adapted to structure online teaching. For example, it is important to recognize the types of learning for which synchronous (active online) and asynchronous (offline) modalities are advantageous and to use each modality strategically.

The synchronous format is useful for introducing new topics, discussing complex ideas and challenging work, and promoting collaborative learning and student-teacher interactions. One of the disadvantages of the synchronous format is that students might find it difficult to remain engaged for long durations, and teachers should expect the duration of engagement to drop with age—ninth-graders will be able to stay engaged longer than fifth-graders, fifth-graders longer than third-graders, and so on.

Asynchronous learning could be used to reinforce what was taught and discussed during synchronous sessions and for tasks and activities that can be self-paced and that might require more time to complete, such as long-term projects. Because students work independently during asynchronous learning, it is important to break up activities into smaller chunks as well as to vary the types of activities, such as answering questions after watching a brief video or writing a short essay after reading assigned pages of a book. Asynchronous learning also has the advantage of promoting student self-regulation and sense of control over the learning process, factors known to increase student engagement (Fredricks et al., 2004).

Finally, students are more likely to be engaged if they feel respected and valued by their teachers and peers, and if they feel that they belong to the classroom and school community. Teachers can reinforce student engagement with praise or by allowing students to do a fun activity. In addition, establishing specific times during the week when students can collaborate on a creative activity, watch a short and lighthearted video together, or just talk could go a long way to creating positive bonds and an engaged community in a virtual environment.

What Is Online Learning?

So, just what is online learning? This term refers to education that takes place in a completely virtual environment using an internet connection and a computer or device to connect to the school. In the online "classroom," you can do all the same things that in-person students do, such as:

Listening to lectures
Answering questions from a professor
Completing readings
Turning in assignments
Taking quizzes and tests
Meeting as a group

Some schools, programs, or courses combine online learning with in-person learning experiences. This model is known as "hybrid education," wherein students participate online most of the time. However, when learning objectives call for hands-on experience (say, practicing skills for a health profession or laboratory experiments), they can head to campus.

That said, many programs allow their students to complete the entire curriculum virtually. Degrees such as a Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering, for example, may not call for in-person learning at all. You can always contact admissions or the specific department if you want to learn more about delivery format.

Why Online Learning Is Good for Students

Despite the widespread accessibility of remote education, some students remain skeptical about online classes. Are you really learning if there’s not a professor present at the front of a lecture hall? Can you really learn the skills you need without the in-person interaction between students and faculty?

Ease and Accessibility

While some people feel online education lacks the intimacy and immediacy of a "real" classroom, it offers an educational channel to students who might otherwise not have the time or resources to attend. Online access has made it possible for students to enroll and participate in online classes with greater ease, from nearly anywhere, in a way that fits their schedules.

Affordability

Online courses are usually more affordable as well. According to the Education Data Initiative , an online degree is $36,595 cheaper than an in-person degree when the cost of tuition and attendance are compared. The average cost of attending a private university is $129,800 for an in-person degree and only $60,593 for an online degree.

It’s also estimated that students who commute to college for in-person classes pay $1,360 per year in transportation costs that an online student wouldn’t have to pay. Add in factors such as cheaper meals at home and more time to work, and it’s not hard to see why many students opt for online learning.

Online Learning

In summary, online learning offers you a ton of freedom and savings. It allows you to complete your work anywhere, from the office to the living room to on the road. And you can rest assured that you’ll get the same level of professorial support as you would from an on-campus program, as well as a degree that’s worth just as much.

Learn More, Today

Ready to learn more? Reach out to U of M Online to ask questions or get information about specific programs today!

Cost of Online Education vs. Traditional Education
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A Survey on the Effectiveness of Online Teaching–Learning Methods for University and College Students

Article of professional interests
Published: 05 April 2021
Volume 102 , pages 1325–1334, ( 2021 )

Cite this article

Preethi Sheba Hepsiba Darius ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-0882-6213 1 ,
Edison Gundabattini ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-4217-2321 2 &
Darius Gnanaraj Solomon ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-5321-5775 2

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Online teaching–learning methods have been followed by world-class universities for more than a decade to cater to the needs of students who stay far away from universities/colleges. But during the COVID-19 pandemic period, online teaching–learning helped almost all universities, colleges, and affiliated students. An attempt is made to find the effectiveness of online teaching–learning methods for university and college students by conducting an online survey. A questionnaire has been specially designed and deployed among university and college students. About 450 students from various universities, engineering colleges, medical colleges in South India have taken part in the survey and submitted responses. It was found that the following methods promote effective online learning: animations, digital collaborations with peers, video lectures delivered by faculty handling the subject, online quiz having multiple-choice questions, availability of student version software, a conducive environment at home, interactions by the faculty during lectures and online materials provided by the faculty. Moreover, online classes are more effective because they provide PPTs in front of every student, lectures are heard by all students at the sound level of their choice, and walking/travel to reach classes is eliminated.

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Introduction

Critical thinking and creativity of students increase with innovative educational methods according to the world declaration on higher education in the twenty-first century [ 1 ]. Innovative educational strategies and educational innovations are required to make the students learn. There are three vertices in the teaching–learning process viz., teaching, communication technology through digital tools, and innovative practices in teaching. In the first vertex, the teacher is a facilitator and provides resources and tools to students and helps them to develop new knowledge and skills. Project-based learning helps teachers and students to promote collaborative learning by discussing specific topics. Cognitive independence is developed among students. To promote global learning, teachers are required to innovate permanently. It is possible when university professors and researchers are given space to new educational forms in different areas of specializations. Virtual classrooms, unlike traditional classrooms, give unlimited scope for introducing teaching innovation strategies. The second vertex refers to the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools for promoting innovative education. Learning management systems (LMS) help in teaching, learning, educational administration, testing, and evaluation. The use of ICT tools promotes technological innovations and advances in learning and knowledge management. The third vertex deals with innovations in teaching/learning to solve problems faced by teachers and students. Creative use of new elements related to curriculum, production of something new, and transformations emerge in classrooms resulting in educational innovations. Evaluations are necessary to improve the innovations so that successful methods can be implemented in all teaching and learning community in an institution [ 2 ]. The pandemic has forced digital learning and job portal Naukri.com reports a fourfold growth for teaching professionals in the e-learning medium [ 3 ]. The initiatives are taken by the government also focus on online mode as an option in a post-covid world [ 4 ]. A notable learning experience design consultant pointed out that, educators are entrusted to lead the way as the world changes and are actively involved in the transformation [ 5 ]. Weiss notes that an educator needs to make the lectures more interesting [ 6 ].

This paper presents the online teaching–learning tools, methods, and a survey on the innovative practices in teaching and learning. Advantages and obstacles in online teaching, various components on the effective use of online tools, team-based collaborative learning, simulation, and animation-based learning are discussed in detail. The outcome of a survey on the effectiveness of online teaching and learning is included. The following sections present the online teaching–learning tools, the details of the questionnaire used for the survey, and the outcome of the survey.

Online Teaching and Learning Tools

The four essential parts of online teaching [ 7 ] are virtual classrooms, individual activities, assessments in real-time, and collaborative group work. Online teaching tools are used to facilitate faculty-student interaction as well as student–student collaborations [ 8 ]. The ease of use, the satisfaction level, the usefulness, and the confidence level of the instructor is crucial [ 9 ] in motivating the instructor to use online teaching tools. Higher education institutes recognize the need to accommodate wide diverse learners and Hilliard [ 10 ] points out that technical support and awareness to both faculty and student is essential in the age of blended learning. Data analytics tool coupled with the LMS is essential to enhance [ 11 ] the quality of teaching and improve the course design. The effective usage of online tools is depicted in Fig. 1 comprising of an instructor to student delivery, collaboration among students, training for the tools, and data analytics for constant improvement of course and assessment methods.

The various components of effective usage of online tools

Online Teaching Tools

A plethora of online teaching tools are available and this poses a challenge for decision-makers to choose the tools that best suits the needs of the course. The need for the tools, the cost, usability, and features determine which tools are adopted by various learners and institutions. Many universities have offered online classes for students. These are taken up by students opting for part-time courses. This offers them flexibility in timing and eliminates the need for travel to campus. The pandemic situation in 2019 has forced many if not all institutions to completely shift classes online. LMS tools are packaged as Software as a Service (SaaS) and the pricing generally falls into 4 categories: (i) per learner, per month (ii) per learner, per use (iii) per course (iv) licensing fee for on-premise installation [ 12 ].

Online Learning Tools

Online teaching/learning as part of the ongoing semester is typically part of a classroom management tool. GSuite for education [ 13 ] and Microsoft Teams [ 14 ] are both widely adopted by schools and colleges during the COVID-19 pandemic to effectively shift regular classes online. Other popular learning management systems that have been adopted as part of blended learning are Edmodo [ 15 ], Blackboard [ 16 ], and MoodleCloud [ 17 ]. Davis et al. [ 18 ] point out advantages and obstacles for both students and instructors about online teaching shown in Table 1 .

The effectiveness of course delivery depends on using the appropriate tools in the course design. This involves engaging the learners and modifying the course design to cater to various learning styles.

A Survey on Innovative Practices in Teaching and Learning

The questionnaire aims to identify the effectiveness of various online tools and technologies, the preferred learning methods of students, and other factors that might influence the teaching–learning process. The parameters were based on different types of learners, advantages, and obstacles to online learning [ 10 , 18 ]. Questions 1–4 are used to comprehend the learning style of the student. Questions 5–7 are posed to find out the effectiveness of the medium used for teaching and evaluation. Questions 8–12 are framed to identify the various barriers to online learning faced by students.

This methodology is adopted as most of the students are attending online courses from home and polls of this kind will go well with the students from various universities. Students participated in the survey and answered most of the questionnaire enthusiastically. The only challenge was a suitable environment and free time for them to answer the questionnaire, as they are already loaded with lots of online work. Students from various universities pursuing professional courses like engineering and medicine took part in this survey. They are from various branches of sciences and technologies. Students are from private universities, colleges, and government institutions. Figure 2 shows the institution-wise respondents. Microsoft Teams and Google meet platforms were used for this survey among university, medical college, and engineering college students. About 450 students responded to this survey. 52% of the respondents are from VIT University Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 23% of the respondents are from CMR Institute of Technology (CMRIT), Bangalore, 15% of the respondents are from medical colleges and 10% are from other engineering colleges. During this pandemic period, VIT students are staying with parents who are living in different states of India like Andhra, Telangana, Kerala, Karnataka, MP, Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, Andaman, and so on. Only a few students are living in Tamil Nadu. Some of the students are staying with parents in other countries like Dubai, Oman, South Africa, and so on. Some of the students of CMRIT Bangalore are living in Bangalore and others in towns and villages of Karnataka state. Students of medical colleges are living in different parts of Tamil Nadu and students of engineering colleges are living in different parts of Andhra Pradesh. Hence, the survey is done in a wider geographical region.

Institution-wise respondents

Figure 3 shows the branch-wise respondents. It is shown that 158 students belong to mechanical/civil engineering. 108 respondents belong to computer science and engineering, 68 students belong to medicine, 58 students belong to electrical & electronics engineering, and electronics & communication engineering. 58 students belong to other disciplines.

Branch-wise respondents

Questionnaire Used

Students were assured of their confidentiality and were promised that their names would not appear in the document. A list of the questions asked as part of the survey is given below.

Questionnaire:

Sample group: B Tech students from different branches of sciences across various engineering institutions and MBBS medical students.

Which of the methods engage you personally to learn digitally ?

Individual assignment

Small group (No. 5 students) work

Large group (No. 10 students and more) work

Project-based learning

Which of the digital collaborations enables you to work on a specific task at ease

Two by two (2 member team)

Small group workgroup (No. 5 students) work

Which of the digital approaches motivate you to learn

Whiteboard and pen

PowerPoint presentation

Digital pen and slate

My experience with online learning from home digitally

I am learning at my own pace comfortably

My situational challenges are not suitable

I can learn better with uninterrupted network connectivity

I am distracted with various activities at home, viz. TV, chatting, etc.

Which type of recorded video lecture is more effective for learning ?

delivered by my faculty

delivered by NPTEL

delivered by reputed Overseas Universities

delivered by unknown experts

Which type of quiz is more effective for testing the understanding?

Traditional—pen and paper—MCQ

Traditional—pen and paper—short answers

Online quiz—MCQ

Online quiz—short answers

Student version software downloaded from the internet is useful for learning

Unable to decide

Online teaching – learning takes place effectively because:

Every student can hear the lecture clearly

PPTs are available right in front of every student

Students can ask doubts without much reservation

Students need not walk long distances before reaching the class

Which of the following statements is true of online learning off-campus ?

No one disturbs me during my online learning.

My friend/family member/roommate/neighbor occasionally disturb me

My friend/family member/roommate/neighbor constantly disturb me

At home/place of residence, how many responsibilities do you have?

I don’t have many responsibilities.

I have a moderate amount of responsibilities, but I have sufficient time for online learning.

I have many responsibilities; I don’t have any time left for online learning.

What is your most preferred method for clearing doubts in online learning?

Ask the professor during/after an online lecture

Post the query in a discussion forum of your class and get help from your peers

Go through online material providing an additional explanation.

Which of the following devices do you use for your online learning?

A laptop/desktop computer

A smartphone

Other devices

Outcome of the survey

Students would prefer to work in a group of 5 students to engage personally in digital learning as seen from Fig. 4 .

Personal engagement in digital learning

Digital collaboration to enable students to work at ease on a specific task is to allow them to work in small groups of 5 students as seen in Fig. 5 .

Digital collaboration to enable students to work at ease

Animations are found to be the best digital approach motivating many students to learn as seen in Fig. 6 .

Digital approaches that motivate students to learn

The online learning experience of students is shown in Fig. 7 . The majority of students have said that they can learn at their own pace comfortably through online learning.

The online learning experience of students

The effectiveness of the recorded video lecture is shown in Fig. 8 . The majority of students agree that the video lectures delivered by his/her faculty teaching the subject help students to learn effectively.

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Darius, P.S.H., Gundabattini, E. & Solomon, D.G. A Survey on the Effectiveness of Online Teaching–Learning Methods for University and College Students. J. Inst. Eng. India Ser. B 102 , 1325–1334 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40031-021-00581-x

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Published: 16 September 2021

Online learning during COVID-19 produced equivalent or better student course performance as compared with pre-pandemic: empirical evidence from a school-wide comparative study

Meixun Zheng 1 ,
Daniel Bender 1 &
Cindy Lyon 1

BMC Medical Education volume 21 , Article number: 495 ( 2021 ) Cite this article

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The COVID-19 pandemic forced dental schools to close their campuses and move didactic instruction online. The abrupt transition to online learning, however, has raised several issues that have not been resolved. While several studies have investigated dental students’ attitude towards online learning during the pandemic, mixed results have been reported. Additionally, little research has been conducted to identify and understand factors, especially pedagogical factors, that impacted students’ acceptance of online learning during campus closure. Furthermore, how online learning during the pandemic impacted students’ learning performance has not been empirically investigated. In March 2020, the dental school studied here moved didactic instruction online in response to government issued stay-at-home orders. This first-of-its-kind comparative study examined students’ perceived effectiveness of online courses during summer quarter 2020, explored pedagogical factors impacting their acceptance of online courses, and empirically evaluated the impact of online learning on students’ course performance, during the pandemic.

The study employed a quasi-experimental design. Participants were 482 pre-doctoral students in a U.S dental school. Students’ perceived effectiveness of online courses during the pandemic was assessed with a survey. Students’ course grades for online courses during summer quarter 2020 were compared with that of a control group who received face-to-face instruction for the same courses before the pandemic in summer quarter 2019.

Survey results revealed that most online courses were well accepted by the students, and 80 % of them wanted to continue with some online instruction post pandemic. Regression analyses revealed that students’ perceived engagement with faculty and classmates predicted their perceived effectiveness of the online course. More notably, Chi Square tests demonstrated that in 16 out of the 17 courses compared, the online cohort during summer quarter 2020 was equally or more likely to get an A course grade than the analogous face-to-face cohort during summer quarter 2019.

Conclusions

This is the first empirical study in dental education to demonstrate that online courses during the pandemic could achieve equivalent or better student course performance than the same pre-pandemic in-person courses. The findings fill in gaps in literature and may inform online learning design moving forward.

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Introduction

Research across disciplines has demonstrated that well-designed online learning can lead to students’ enhanced motivation, satisfaction, and learning [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. A report by the U.S. Department of Education [ 8 ], based on examinations of comparative studies of online and face-to-face versions of the same course from 1996 to 2008, concluded that online learning could produce learning outcomes equivalent to or better than face-to-face learning. The more recent systematic review by Pei and Wu [ 9 ] provided additional evidence that online learning is at least as effective as face-to-face learning for undergraduate medical students.

To take advantage of the opportunities presented by online learning, thought leaders in dental education in the U.S. have advocated for the adoption of online learning in the nation’s dental schools [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. However, digital innovation has been a slow process in academic dentistry [ 13 , 14 , 15 ]. In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented disruption to dental education by necessitating the need for online learning. In accordance with stay-at-home orders to prevent the spread of the virus, dental schools around the world closed their campuses and moved didactic instruction online.

The abrupt transition to online learning, however, has raised several concerns and question. First, while several studies have examined dental students’ online learning satisfaction during the pandemic, mixed results have been reported. Some studies have reported students’ positive attitude towards online learning [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]. Sadid-Zadeh et al. [ 18 ] found that 99 % of the surveyed dental students at University of Buffalo, in the U.S., were satisfied with live web-based lectures during the pandemic. Schlenz et al. [ 15 ] reported that students in a German dental school had a favorable attitude towards online learning and wanted to continue with online instruction in their future curriculum. Other studies, however, have reported students’ negative online learning experience during the pandemic [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. For instance, dental students at Harvard University felt that learning during the pandemic had worsened and engagement had decreased [ 23 , 24 ]. In a study with medical and dental students in Pakistan, Abbasi et al. [ 21 ] found that 77 % of the students had negative perceptions about online learning and 84 % reported reduced student-instructor interactions.

In addition to these mixed results, little attention has been given to factors affecting students’ acceptance of online learning during the pandemic. With the likelihood that online learning will persist post pandemic [ 27 ], research in this area is warranted to inform online course design moving forward. In particular, prior research has demonstrated that one of the most important factors influencing students’ performance in any learning environment is a sense of belonging, the feeling of being connected with and supported by the instructor and classmates [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. Unfortunately, this aspect of the classroom experience has suffered during school closure. While educational events can be held using a video conferencing system, virtual peer interaction on such platforms has been perceived by medical trainees to be not as easy and personal as physical interaction [ 32 ]. The pandemic highlights the need to examine instructional strategies most suited to the current situation to support students’ engagement with faculty and classmates.

Furthermore, there is considerable concern from the academic community about the quality of online learning. Pre-pandemic, some faculty and students were already skeptical about the value of online learning [ 33 ]. The longer the pandemic lasts, the more they may question the value of online education, asking: Can online learning during the pandemic produce learning outcomes that are similar to face-to-face learning before the pandemic? Despite the documented benefits of online learning prior to the pandemic, the actual impact of online learning during the pandemic on students’ academic performance is still unknown due to reasons outlined below.

On one hand, several factors beyond the technology used could influence the effectiveness of online learning, one of which is the teaching context [ 34 ]. The sudden transition to online learning has posed many challenges to faculty and students. Faculty may not have had adequate time to carefully design online courses to take full advantage of the possibilities of the online format. Some faculty may not have had prior online teaching experience and experienced a deeper learning curve when it came to adopting online teaching methods [ 35 ]. Students may have been at the risk of increased anxiety due to concerns about contracting the virus, on time graduation, finances, and employment [ 36 , 37 ], which may have negatively impacted learning performance [ 38 ]. Therefore, whether online learning during the pandemic could produce learning outcomes similar to those of online learning implemented during more normal times remains to be determined.

Most existing studies on online learning in dental education during the pandemic have only reported students’ satisfaction. The actual impact of the online format on academic performance has not been empirically investigated. The few studies that have examined students’ learning outcomes have only used students’ self-reported data from surveys and focus groups. According to Kaczmarek et al. [ 24 ], 50 % of the participating dental faculty at Harvard University perceived student learning to have worsened during the pandemic and 70 % of the students felt the same. Abbasi et al. [ 21 ] reported that 86 % of medical and dental students in a Pakistan college felt that they learned less online. While student opinions are important, research has demonstrated a poor correlation between students’ perceived learning and actual learning gains [ 39 ]. As we continue to navigate the “new normal” in teaching, students’ learning performance needs to be empirically evaluated to help institutions gauge the impact of this grand online learning experiment.

Research purposes

In March 2020, the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, in the U.S., moved didactic instruction online to ensure the continuity of education during building closure. This study examined students’ acceptance of online learning during the pandemic and its impacting factors, focusing on instructional practices pertaining to students’ engagement/interaction with faculty and classmates. Another purpose of this study was to empirically evaluate the impact of online learning during the pandemic on students’ actual course performance by comparing it with that of a pre-pandemic cohort. To understand the broader impact of the institutional-wide online learning effort, we examined all online courses offered in summer quarter 2020 (July to September) that had a didactic component.

This is the first empirical study in dental education to evaluate students’ learning performance during the pandemic. The study aimed to answer the following three questions.

How well was online learning accepted by students, during the summer quarter 2020 pandemic interruption?

How did instructional strategies, centered around students’ engagement with faculty and classmates, impact their acceptance of online learning?

How did online learning during summer quarter 2020 impact students’ course performance as compared with a previous analogous cohort who received face-to-face instruction in summer quarter 2019?

This study employed a quasi-experimental design. The study was approved by the university’s institutional review board (#2020-68).

Study context and participants

The study was conducted at the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, University of the Pacific. The program runs on a quarter system. It offers a 3-year accelerated Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program and a 2-year International Dental Studies (IDS) program for international dentists who have obtained a doctoral degree in dentistry from a country outside the U.S. and want to practice in the U.S. Students advance throughout the program in cohorts. IDS students take some courses together with their DDS peers. All three DDS classes (D1/DDS 2023, D2/DDS 2022, and D3/DDS 2021) and both IDS classes (I1/IDS 2022 and I2/IDS 2021) were invited to participate in the study. The number of students in each class was: D1 = 145, D2 = 143, D3 = 143, I1 = 26, and I2 = 25. This resulted in a total of 482 student participants.

During campus closure, faculty delivered remote instruction in various ways, including live online classes via Zoom @ [ 40 ], self-paced online modules on the school’s learning management system Canvas @ [ 41 ], or a combination of live and self-paced delivery. For self-paced modules, students studied assigned readings and/or viewings such as videos and pre-recorded slide presentations. Some faculty also developed self-paced online lessons with SoftChalk @ [ 42 ], a cloud-based platform that supports the inclusion of gamified learning by insertion of various mini learning activities. The SoftChalk lessons were integrated with Canvas @ [ 41 ] and faculty could monitor students’ progress. After students completed the pre-assigned online materials, some faculty held virtual office hours or live online discussion sessions for students to ask questions and discuss key concepts.

Data collection and analysis

Student survey.

Students’ perceived effectiveness of summer quarter 2020 online courses was evaluated by the school’s Office of Academic Affairs in lieu of the regular course evaluation process. A total of 19 courses for DDS students and 10 courses for IDS students were evaluated. An 8-question survey developed by the researchers (Additional file 1 ) was administered online in the last week of summer quarter 2020. Course directors invited student to take the survey during live online classes. The survey introduction stated that taking the survey was voluntary and that their anonymous responses would be reported in aggregated form for research purposes. Students were invited to continue with the survey if they chose to participate; otherwise, they could exit the survey. The number of students in each class who took the survey was as follows: D1 ( n = 142; 98 %), D2 ( n = 133; 93 %), D3 ( n = 61; 43 %), I1 ( n = 23; 88 %), and I2 ( n = 20; 80 %). This resulted in a total of 379 (79 %) respondents across all classes.

The survey questions were on a 4-point scale, ranging from Strongly Disagree (1 point), Disagree (2 points), Agree (3 points), and Strongly Agree (4 points). Students were asked to rate each online course by responding to four statements: “ I could fully engage with the instructor and classmates in this course”; “The online format of this course supported my learning”; “Overall this online course is effective.”, and “ I would have preferred face-to-face instruction for this course ”. For the first three survey questions, a higher mean score indicated a more positive attitude toward the online course. For the fourth question “ I would have preferred face-to-face instruction for this course ”, a higher mean score indicated that more students would have preferred face-to-face instruction for the course. Two additional survey questions asked students to select their preferred online delivery method for fully online courses during the pandemic from three given choices (synchronous online/live, asynchronous online/self-paced, and a combination of both), and to report whether they wanted to continue with some online instruction post pandemic. Finally, two open-ended questions at the end of the survey allowed students to comment on the aspects of online format that they found to be helpful and to provide suggestion for improvement. For the purpose of this study, we focused on the quantitative data from the Likert-scale questions.

Descriptive data such as the mean scores were reported for each course. Regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between instructional strategies focusing on students’ engagement with faculty and classmates, and their overall perceived effectiveness of the online course. The independent variable was student responses to the question “ I could fully engage with the instructor and classmates in this course ”, and the dependent variable was their answer to the question “ Overall, this online course is effective .”

Student course grades

Using Chi-square tests, student course grade distributions (A, B, C, D, and F) for summer quarter 2020 online courses were compared with that of a previous cohort who received face-to-face instruction for the same course in summer quarter 2019. Note that as a result of the school’s pre-doctoral curriculum redesign implemented in July 2019, not all courses offered in summer quarter 2020 were offered in the previous year in summer quarter 2019. In other words, some of the courses offered in summer quarter 2020 were new courses offered for the first time. Because these new courses did not have a previous face-to-face version to compare to, they were excluded from data analysis. For some other courses, while course content remained the same between 2019 and 2020, the sequence of course topics within the course had changed. These courses were also excluded from data analysis.

After excluding the aforementioned courses, it resulted in a total of 17 “comparable” courses that were included in data analysis (see the subsequent section). For these courses, the instructor, course content, and course goals were the same in both 2019 and 2020. The assessment methods and grading policies also remained the same through both years. For exams and quizzes, multiple choice questions were the dominating format for both years. While some exam questions in 2020 were different from 2019, faculty reported that the overall exam difficulty level was similar. The main difference in assessment was testing conditions. The 2019 cohort took computer-based exams in the physical classroom with faculty proctoring, and the 2020 cohort took exams at home with remote proctoring to ensure exam integrity. The remote proctoring software monitored the student during the exam through a web camera on their computer/laptop. The recorded video file flags suspicious activities for faculty review after exam completion.

Students’ perceived effectiveness of online learning

Table 1 summarized data on DDS students’ perceived effectiveness of each online course during summer quarter 2020. For the survey question “ Overall, this online course is effective ”, the majority of courses received a mean score that was approaching or over 3 points on the 4-point scale, suggesting that online learning was generally well accepted by students. Despite overall positive online course experiences, for many of the courses examined, there was an equal split in student responses to the question “ I would have preferred face-to-face instruction for this course .” Additionally, for students’ preferred online delivery method for fully online courses, about half of the students in each class preferred a combination of synchronous and asynchronous online learning (see Fig. 1 ). Finally, the majority of students wanted faculty to continue with some online instruction post pandemic: D1class (110; 78.60 %), D2 class (104; 80 %), and D3 class (49; 83.10 %).

While most online courses received favorable ratings, some variations did exist among courses. For D1 courses, “ Anatomy & Histology ” received lower ratings than others. This could be explained by its lab component, which didn’t lend itself as well to the online format. For D2 courses, several of them received lower ratings than others, especially for the survey question on students’ perceived engagement with faculty and classmates.

DDS students’ preferred online delivery method for fully online courses

Table 2 summarized IDS students’ perceived effectiveness of each online course during summer quarter 2020. For the survey question “ Overall, this online course is effective ”, all courses received a mean score that was approaching or over 3 points on a 4-point scale, suggesting that online learning was well accepted by students. For the survey question “ I would have preferred face-to-face instruction for this course ”, for most online courses examined, the percentage of students who would have preferred face-to-face instruction was similar to that of students who preferred online instruction for the course. Like their DDS peers, about half of the IDS students in each class also preferred a combination of synchronous and asynchronous online delivery for fully online courses (See Fig. 2 ). Finally, the majority of IDS students (I1, n = 18, 81.80 %; I2, n = 16, 84.20 %) wanted to continue with some online learning after the pandemic is over.

IDS students’ preferred online delivery method for fully online courses

Factors impacting students’ acceptance of online learning

For all 19 online courses taken by DDS students, regression analyses indicated that there was a significantly positive relationship between students’ perceived engagement with faculty and classmates and their perceived effectiveness of the course. P value was 0.00 across all courses. The ranges of effect size (r 2 ) were: D1 courses (0.26 to 0.50), D2 courses (0.39 to 0.650), and D3 courses (0.22 to 0.44), indicating moderate to high correlations across courses.

For 9 out of the 10 online courses taken by IDS students, there was a positive relationship between students’ perceived engagement with faculty and classmates and their perceived effectiveness of the course. P value was 0.00 across courses. The ranges of effect size were: I1 courses (0.35 to 0.77) and I2 courses (0.47 to 0.63), indicating consistently high correlations across courses. The only course in which students’ perceived engagement with faculty and classmates didn’t predict perceived effective of the course was “ Integrated Clinical Science III (ICS III) ”, which the I2 class took together with their D3 peers.

Impact of online learning on students’ course performance

Chi square test results (Table 3 ) indicated that in 4 out of the 17 courses compared, the online cohort during summer quarter 2020 was more likely to receive an A grade than the face-to-face cohort during summer quarter 2019. In 12 of the courses, the online cohort were equally likely to receive an A grade as the face-to-face cohort. In the remaining one course, the online cohort was less likely to receive an A grade than the face-to-face cohort.

Students’ acceptance of online learning during the pandemic

Survey results revealed that students had generally positive perceptions about online learning during the pandemic and the majority of them wanted to continue with some online learning post pandemic. Overall, our findings supported several other studies in dental [ 18 , 20 ], medical [ 43 , 44 ], and nursing [ 45 ] education that have also reported students’ positive attitudes towards online learning during the pandemic. In their written comments in the survey, students cited enhanced flexibility as one of the greatest benefits of online learning. Some students also commented that typing questions in the chat box during live online classes was less intimidating than speaking in class. Others explicitly stated that not having to commute to/from school provided more time for sleep, which helped with self-care and mental health. Our findings are in line with previous studies which have also demonstrated that online learning offered higher flexibility [ 46 , 47 ]. Meanwhile, consistent with findings of other researchers [ 19 , 21 , 46 ], our students felt difficulty engaging with faculty and classmates in several online courses.

There were some variations among individual courses in students’ acceptance of the online format. One factor that could partially account for the observed differences was instructional strategies. In particular, our regression analysis results demonstrated a positive correlation between students’ perceived engagement with faculty and classmates and their perceived overall effectiveness of the online course. Other aspects of course design might also have influenced students’ overall rating of the online course. For instance, some D2 students commented that the requirements of the course “ Integrated Case-based Seminars (ICS II) ” were not clear and that assessment did not align with lecture materials. It is important to remember that communicating course requirements clearly and aligning course content and assessment are principles that should be applied in any course, whether face-to-face or online. Our results highlighted the importance of providing faculty training on basic educational design principles and online learning design strategies. Furthermore, the nature of the course might also have impacted student ratings. For example, D1 course “ Anatomy and Histology ” had a lab component, which did not lend itself as well to the online format. Many students reported that it was difficult to see faculty’s live demonstration during Zoom lectures, which may have resulted in a lower student satisfaction rating.

As for students’ preferred online delivery method for fully online courses during the pandemic, about half of them preferred a combination of synchronous and asynchronous online learning. In light of this finding, as we continue with remote learning until public health directives allow a return to campus, we will encourage faculty to integrate these two online delivery modalities. Finally, in view of the result that over 80 % of the students wanted to continue with some online instruction after the pandemic, the school will advocate for blended learning in the post-pandemic world [ 48 ]. For future face-to-face courses on campus after the pandemic, faculty are encouraged to deliver some content online to reduce classroom seat time and make learning more flexible. Taken together, our findings not only add to the overall picture of the current situation but may inform learning design moving forward.

Role of online engagement and interaction

To reiterate, we found that students’ perceived engagement with faculty and classmates predicted their perceived overall effectiveness of the online course. This aligns with the larger literature on best practices in online learning design. Extensive research prior to the pandemic has confirmed that the effectiveness of online learning is determined by a number of factors beyond the tools used, including students’ interactions with the instructor and classmates [ 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 ]. Online students may feel isolated due to reduced or lack of interaction [ 53 , 54 ]. Therefore, in designing online learning experiences, it is important to remember that learning is a social process [ 55 ]. Faculty’s role is not only to transmit content but also to promote the different types of interactions that are an integral part of the online learning process [ 33 ]. The online teaching model in which faculty uploads materials online but teach it in the same way as in the physical classroom, without special effort to engage students, doesn’t make the best use of the online format. Putting the “sage on the screen” during a live class meeting on a video conferencing system is not different from “sage on the stage” in the physical classroom - both provide limited space for engagement. Such one-way monologue devalues the potentials that online learning presents.

In light of the critical role that social interaction plays in online learning, faculty are encouraged to use the interactive features of online learning platforms to provide clear channels for student-instructor and student-student interactions. In the open-ended comments, students highlighted several instructional strategies that they perceived to be helpful for learning. For live online classes, these included conducting breakout room activities, using the chat box to facilitate discussions, polling, and integrating gameplay with apps such as Kahoot! @ [ 56 ]. For self-paced classes, students appreciated that faculty held virtual office hours or subsequent live online discussion sessions to reinforce understanding of the pre-assigned materials.

Quality of online education during the pandemic

This study provided empirical evidence in dental education that it was possible to ensure the continuity of education without sacrificing the quality of education provided to students during forced migration to distance learning upon building closure. To reiterate, in all but one online course offered in summer quarter 2020, students were equally or more likely to get an A grade than the face-to-face cohort from summer quarter 2019. Even for courses that had less student support for the online format (e.g., the D1 course “ Anatomy and Histology ”), there was a significant increase in the number of students who earned an A grade in 2020 as compared with the previous year. The reduced capacity for technical training during the pandemic may have resulted in more study time for didactic content. Overall, our results resonate with several studies in health sciences education before the pandemic that the quality of learning is comparable in face-to-face and online formats [ 9 , 57 , 58 ]. For the only course ( Integrated Case-based Seminars ICS II) in which the online cohort had inferior performance than the face-to-face cohort, as mentioned earlier, students reported that assessment was not aligned with course materials and that course expectations were not clear. This might explain why students’ course performance was not as strong as expected.

Limitations

This study used a pre-existing control group from the previous year. There may have been individual differences between students in the online and the face-to-face cohorts, such as motivation, learning style, and prior knowledge, that could have impacted the observed outcomes. Additionally, even though course content and assessment methods were largely the same in 2019 and 2020, changes in other aspects of the course could have impacted students’ course performance. Some faculty may have been more compassionate with grading (e.g., more flexible with assignment deadlines) in summer quarter 2020 given the hardship students experienced during the pandemic. On the other hand, remote proctoring in summer quarter 2020 may have heightened some students’ exam anxiety knowing that they were being monitored through a webcam. The existence and magnitude of effect of these factors needs to be further investigated.

This present study only examined the correlation between students’ perceived online engagement and their perceived overall effectiveness of the online course. Other factors that might impact their acceptance of the online format need to be further researched in future studies. Another future direction is to examine how students’ perceived online engagement correlates with their actual course performance. Because the survey data collected for our present study are anonymous, we cannot match students’ perceived online engagement data with their course grades to run this additional analysis. It should also be noted that this study was focused on didactic online instruction. Future studies might examine how technical training was impacted during the COVID building closure. It was also out of the scope of this study to examine how student characteristics, especially high and low academic performance as reflected by individual grades, affects their online learning experience and performance. We plan to conduct a follow-up study to examine which group of students are most impacted by the online format. Finally, this study was conducted in a single dental school, and so the findings may not be generalizable to other schools and disciplines. Future studies could be conducted in another school or disciplines to compare results.

This study revealed that dental students had generally favorable attitudes towards online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and that their perceived engagement with faculty and classmates predicted their acceptance of the online course. Most notably, this is the first study in dental education to demonstrate that online learning during the pandemic could achieve similar or better learning outcomes than face-to-face learning before the pandemic. Findings of our study could contribute significantly to the literature on online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic in health sciences education. The results could also inform future online learning design as we re-envision the future of online learning.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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MZ is an Associate Professor of Learning Sciences and Senior Instructional Designer at School of Dentistry, University of the Pacific. She has a PhD in Education, with a specialty on learning sciences and technology. She has dedicated her entire career to conducting research on online learning, learning technology, and faculty development. Her research has resulted in several peer-reviewed publications in medical, dental, and educational technology journals. MZ has also presented regularly at national conferences.

DB is an Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs at School of Dentistry, University of the Pacific. He has an EdD degree in education, with a concentration on learning and instruction. Over the past decades, DB has been overseeing and delivering faculty pedagogical development programs to dental faculty. His research interest lies in educational leadership and instructional innovation. DB has co-authored several peer-reviewed publications in health sciences education and presented regularly at national conferences.

CL is Associate Dean of Oral Healthcare Education, School of Dentistry, University of the Pacific. She has a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree and an EdD degree with a focus on educational leadership. Her professional interest lies in educational leadership, oral healthcare education innovation, and faculty development. CL has co-authored several publications in peer-reviewed journals in health sciences education and presented regularly at national conferences.

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MZ analyzed the data and wrote the initial draft of the manuscript. DB and CL both provided assistance with research design, data collection, and reviewed and edited the manuscript. The author(s) read and approved the final manuscript.

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Zheng, M., Bender, D. & Lyon, C. Online learning during COVID-19 produced equivalent or better student course performance as compared with pre-pandemic: empirical evidence from a school-wide comparative study. BMC Med Educ 21 , 495 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-021-02909-z

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Research Topics & Ideas: Education

170+ Research Ideas To Fast-Track Your Project

Topic Kickstarter: Research topics in education

If you’re just starting out exploring education-related topics for your dissertation, thesis or research project, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’ll help kickstart your research topic ideation process by providing a hearty list of research topics and ideas , including examples from actual dissertations and theses..

PS – This is just the start…

We know it’s exciting to run through a list of research topics, but please keep in mind that this list is just a starting point . To develop a suitable education-related research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , and a viable plan of action to fill that gap.

If this sounds foreign to you, check out our free research topic webinar that explores how to find and refine a high-quality research topic, from scratch. Alternatively, if you’d like hands-on help, consider our 1-on-1 coaching service .

Overview: Education Research Topics

How to find a research topic (video)
List of 50+ education-related research topics/ideas
List of 120+ level-specific research topics
Examples of actual dissertation topics in education
Tips to fast-track your topic ideation (video)
Free Webinar : Topic Ideation 101
Where to get extra help

Education-Related Research Topics & Ideas

Below you’ll find a list of education-related research topics and idea kickstarters. These are fairly broad and flexible to various contexts, so keep in mind that you will need to refine them a little. Nevertheless, they should inspire some ideas for your project.

The impact of school funding on student achievement
The effects of social and emotional learning on student well-being
The effects of parental involvement on student behaviour
The impact of teacher training on student learning
The impact of classroom design on student learning
The impact of poverty on education
The use of student data to inform instruction
The role of parental involvement in education
The effects of mindfulness practices in the classroom
The use of technology in the classroom
The role of critical thinking in education
The use of formative and summative assessments in the classroom
The use of differentiated instruction in the classroom
The use of gamification in education
The effects of teacher burnout on student learning
The impact of school leadership on student achievement
The effects of teacher diversity on student outcomes
The role of teacher collaboration in improving student outcomes
The implementation of blended and online learning
The effects of teacher accountability on student achievement
The effects of standardized testing on student learning
The effects of classroom management on student behaviour
The effects of school culture on student achievement
The use of student-centred learning in the classroom
The impact of teacher-student relationships on student outcomes
The achievement gap in minority and low-income students
The use of culturally responsive teaching in the classroom
The impact of teacher professional development on student learning
The use of project-based learning in the classroom
The effects of teacher expectations on student achievement
The use of adaptive learning technology in the classroom
The impact of teacher turnover on student learning
The effects of teacher recruitment and retention on student learning
The impact of early childhood education on later academic success
The impact of parental involvement on student engagement
The use of positive reinforcement in education
The impact of school climate on student engagement
The role of STEM education in preparing students for the workforce
The effects of school choice on student achievement
The use of technology in the form of online tutoring

Level-Specific Research Topics

Looking for research topics for a specific level of education? We’ve got you covered. Below you can find research topic ideas for primary, secondary and tertiary-level education contexts. Click the relevant level to view the respective list.

Research Topics: Pick An Education Level

Primary education.

Investigating the effects of peer tutoring on academic achievement in primary school
Exploring the benefits of mindfulness practices in primary school classrooms
Examining the effects of different teaching strategies on primary school students’ problem-solving skills
The use of storytelling as a teaching strategy in primary school literacy instruction
The role of cultural diversity in promoting tolerance and understanding in primary schools
The impact of character education programs on moral development in primary school students
Investigating the use of technology in enhancing primary school mathematics education
The impact of inclusive curriculum on promoting equity and diversity in primary schools
The impact of outdoor education programs on environmental awareness in primary school students
The influence of school climate on student motivation and engagement in primary schools
Investigating the effects of early literacy interventions on reading comprehension in primary school students
The impact of parental involvement in school decision-making processes on student achievement in primary schools
Exploring the benefits of inclusive education for students with special needs in primary schools
Investigating the effects of teacher-student feedback on academic motivation in primary schools
The role of technology in developing digital literacy skills in primary school students
Effective strategies for fostering a growth mindset in primary school students
Investigating the role of parental support in reducing academic stress in primary school children
The role of arts education in fostering creativity and self-expression in primary school students
Examining the effects of early childhood education programs on primary school readiness
Examining the effects of homework on primary school students’ academic performance
The role of formative assessment in improving learning outcomes in primary school classrooms
The impact of teacher-student relationships on academic outcomes in primary school
Investigating the effects of classroom environment on student behavior and learning outcomes in primary schools
Investigating the role of creativity and imagination in primary school curriculum
The impact of nutrition and healthy eating programs on academic performance in primary schools
The impact of social-emotional learning programs on primary school students’ well-being and academic performance
The role of parental involvement in academic achievement of primary school children
Examining the effects of classroom management strategies on student behavior in primary school
The role of school leadership in creating a positive school climate Exploring the benefits of bilingual education in primary schools
The effectiveness of project-based learning in developing critical thinking skills in primary school students
The role of inquiry-based learning in fostering curiosity and critical thinking in primary school students
The effects of class size on student engagement and achievement in primary schools
Investigating the effects of recess and physical activity breaks on attention and learning in primary school
Exploring the benefits of outdoor play in developing gross motor skills in primary school children
The effects of educational field trips on knowledge retention in primary school students
Examining the effects of inclusive classroom practices on students’ attitudes towards diversity in primary schools
The impact of parental involvement in homework on primary school students’ academic achievement
Investigating the effectiveness of different assessment methods in primary school classrooms
The influence of physical activity and exercise on cognitive development in primary school children
Exploring the benefits of cooperative learning in promoting social skills in primary school students

Secondary Education

Investigating the effects of school discipline policies on student behavior and academic success in secondary education
The role of social media in enhancing communication and collaboration among secondary school students
The impact of school leadership on teacher effectiveness and student outcomes in secondary schools
Investigating the effects of technology integration on teaching and learning in secondary education
Exploring the benefits of interdisciplinary instruction in promoting critical thinking skills in secondary schools
The impact of arts education on creativity and self-expression in secondary school students
The effectiveness of flipped classrooms in promoting student learning in secondary education
The role of career guidance programs in preparing secondary school students for future employment
Investigating the effects of student-centered learning approaches on student autonomy and academic success in secondary schools
The impact of socio-economic factors on educational attainment in secondary education
Investigating the impact of project-based learning on student engagement and academic achievement in secondary schools
Investigating the effects of multicultural education on cultural understanding and tolerance in secondary schools
The influence of standardized testing on teaching practices and student learning in secondary education
Investigating the effects of classroom management strategies on student behavior and academic engagement in secondary education
The influence of teacher professional development on instructional practices and student outcomes in secondary schools
The role of extracurricular activities in promoting holistic development and well-roundedness in secondary school students
Investigating the effects of blended learning models on student engagement and achievement in secondary education
The role of physical education in promoting physical health and well-being among secondary school students
Investigating the effects of gender on academic achievement and career aspirations in secondary education
Exploring the benefits of multicultural literature in promoting cultural awareness and empathy among secondary school students
The impact of school counseling services on student mental health and well-being in secondary schools
Exploring the benefits of vocational education and training in preparing secondary school students for the workforce
The role of digital literacy in preparing secondary school students for the digital age
The influence of parental involvement on academic success and well-being of secondary school students
The impact of social-emotional learning programs on secondary school students’ well-being and academic success
The role of character education in fostering ethical and responsible behavior in secondary school students
Examining the effects of digital citizenship education on responsible and ethical technology use among secondary school students
The impact of parental involvement in school decision-making processes on student outcomes in secondary schools
The role of educational technology in promoting personalized learning experiences in secondary schools
The impact of inclusive education on the social and academic outcomes of students with disabilities in secondary schools
The influence of parental support on academic motivation and achievement in secondary education
The role of school climate in promoting positive behavior and well-being among secondary school students
Examining the effects of peer mentoring programs on academic achievement and social-emotional development in secondary schools
Examining the effects of teacher-student relationships on student motivation and achievement in secondary schools
Exploring the benefits of service-learning programs in promoting civic engagement among secondary school students
The impact of educational policies on educational equity and access in secondary education
Examining the effects of homework on academic achievement and student well-being in secondary education
Investigating the effects of different assessment methods on student performance in secondary schools
Examining the effects of single-sex education on academic performance and gender stereotypes in secondary schools
The role of mentoring programs in supporting the transition from secondary to post-secondary education

Tertiary Education

The role of student support services in promoting academic success and well-being in higher education
The impact of internationalization initiatives on students’ intercultural competence and global perspectives in tertiary education
Investigating the effects of active learning classrooms and learning spaces on student engagement and learning outcomes in tertiary education
Exploring the benefits of service-learning experiences in fostering civic engagement and social responsibility in higher education
The influence of learning communities and collaborative learning environments on student academic and social integration in higher education
Exploring the benefits of undergraduate research experiences in fostering critical thinking and scientific inquiry skills
Investigating the effects of academic advising and mentoring on student retention and degree completion in higher education
The role of student engagement and involvement in co-curricular activities on holistic student development in higher education
The impact of multicultural education on fostering cultural competence and diversity appreciation in higher education
The role of internships and work-integrated learning experiences in enhancing students’ employability and career outcomes
Examining the effects of assessment and feedback practices on student learning and academic achievement in tertiary education
The influence of faculty professional development on instructional practices and student outcomes in tertiary education
The influence of faculty-student relationships on student success and well-being in tertiary education
The impact of college transition programs on students’ academic and social adjustment to higher education
The impact of online learning platforms on student learning outcomes in higher education
The impact of financial aid and scholarships on access and persistence in higher education
The influence of student leadership and involvement in extracurricular activities on personal development and campus engagement
Exploring the benefits of competency-based education in developing job-specific skills in tertiary students
Examining the effects of flipped classroom models on student learning and retention in higher education
Exploring the benefits of online collaboration and virtual team projects in developing teamwork skills in tertiary students
Investigating the effects of diversity and inclusion initiatives on campus climate and student experiences in tertiary education
The influence of study abroad programs on intercultural competence and global perspectives of college students
Investigating the effects of peer mentoring and tutoring programs on student retention and academic performance in tertiary education
Investigating the effectiveness of active learning strategies in promoting student engagement and achievement in tertiary education
Investigating the effects of blended learning models and hybrid courses on student learning and satisfaction in higher education
The role of digital literacy and information literacy skills in supporting student success in the digital age
Investigating the effects of experiential learning opportunities on career readiness and employability of college students
The impact of e-portfolios on student reflection, self-assessment, and showcasing of learning in higher education
The role of technology in enhancing collaborative learning experiences in tertiary classrooms
The impact of research opportunities on undergraduate student engagement and pursuit of advanced degrees
Examining the effects of competency-based assessment on measuring student learning and achievement in tertiary education
Examining the effects of interdisciplinary programs and courses on critical thinking and problem-solving skills in college students
The role of inclusive education and accessibility in promoting equitable learning experiences for diverse student populations
The role of career counseling and guidance in supporting students’ career decision-making in tertiary education
The influence of faculty diversity and representation on student success and inclusive learning environments in higher education

Education-Related Dissertations & Theses

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a research topic in education, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual dissertations and theses in the education space to see how this all comes together in practice.

Below, we’ve included a selection of education-related research projects to help refine your thinking. These are actual dissertations and theses, written as part of Master’s and PhD-level programs, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

From Rural to Urban: Education Conditions of Migrant Children in China (Wang, 2019)
Energy Renovation While Learning English: A Guidebook for Elementary ESL Teachers (Yang, 2019)
A Reanalyses of Intercorrelational Matrices of Visual and Verbal Learners’ Abilities, Cognitive Styles, and Learning Preferences (Fox, 2020)
A study of the elementary math program utilized by a mid-Missouri school district (Barabas, 2020)
Instructor formative assessment practices in virtual learning environments : a posthumanist sociomaterial perspective (Burcks, 2019)
Higher education students services: a qualitative study of two mid-size universities’ direct exchange programs (Kinde, 2020)
Exploring editorial leadership : a qualitative study of scholastic journalism advisers teaching leadership in Missouri secondary schools (Lewis, 2020)
Selling the virtual university: a multimodal discourse analysis of marketing for online learning (Ludwig, 2020)
Advocacy and accountability in school counselling: assessing the use of data as related to professional self-efficacy (Matthews, 2020)
The use of an application screening assessment as a predictor of teaching retention at a midwestern, K-12, public school district (Scarbrough, 2020)
Core values driving sustained elite performance cultures (Beiner, 2020)
Educative features of upper elementary Eureka math curriculum (Dwiggins, 2020)
How female principals nurture adult learning opportunities in successful high schools with challenging student demographics (Woodward, 2020)
The disproportionality of Black Males in Special Education: A Case Study Analysis of Educator Perceptions in a Southeastern Urban High School (McCrae, 2021)

As you can see, these research topics are a lot more focused than the generic topic ideas we presented earlier. So, in order for you to develop a high-quality research topic, you’ll need to get specific and laser-focused on a specific context with specific variables of interest. In the video below, we explore some other important things you’ll need to consider when crafting your research topic.

Get 1-On-1 Help

If you’re still unsure about how to find a quality research topic within education, check out our Research Topic Kickstarter service, which is the perfect starting point for developing a unique, well-justified research topic.

Research Topic Kickstarter - Need Help Finding A Research Topic?

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FAQs: How Online Courses Work

The Benefits of Online Education

How online education works.

The Effectiveness of Online Education

Choosing Online Degree Programs

Technical skills and considerations, paying for online degree programs.

Recent reports detail just how quickly colleges adopted online learning. According to the Babson Survey Research Group, university and student participation in online education is at an all-time high. Even some of the largest and most prestigious universities now offer online degrees. Despite its growing popularity, online education is still relatively new, and many students and academics are completely unacquainted with it. Questions and concerns are normal. This page addresses some of the most frequently asked questions about online degree programs. All answers are thoroughly researched; we include links to relevant studies whenever possible.

Question: What are some of the advantages of attending college online?

[Answer] Online education is known for its flexibility, but studies have identified several additional benefits of attending class online. Among them:

Communication : Many students are more comfortable engaging in meaningful discussions online than in a classroom. These students might have hearing or speech impairments; speak different languages; have severe social anxiety; or simply need more time to organize their thoughts.
Personalized learning : Not all students learn the same way. Web-based learning allows instructors to deliver the same content using different media, like videos or simulations, personalizing learning. Online classes providing round-the-clock access to materials and lectures also let students study when they feel most focused and engaged.
Accessibility : Online programs transcend time, geographic, and other barriers to higher education. This can be helpful for those who work full-time, live in remote regions, or serve in the military.
Adaptability : Learning management systems that integrate text-to-speech and other adaptive technologies support learners with physical, behavioral, and learning challenges.
Efficiency : Studies show online students tend to achieve the same learning results in half the time as classroom-based students.
Engagement : Online instructors can use games, social media, virtual badges, and other engaging technologies to motivate students and enhance learning.

Question: How does online education work on a day-to-day basis?

[Answer] Instructional methods, course requirements, and learning technologies can vary significantly from one online program to the next, but the vast bulk of them use a learning management system (LMS) to deliver lectures and materials, monitor student progress, assess comprehension, and accept student work. LMS providers design these platforms to accommodate a multitude of instructor needs and preferences. While some courses deliver live lectures using video conferencing tools, others allow students to download pre-recorded lectures and use message boards to discuss topics. Instructors may also incorporate simulations, games, and other engagement-boosters to enhance learning. Students should research individual programs to find out how and when they would report to class; how lectures and materials are delivered; how and how much they would collaborate with faculty and peers; and other important details. We address many of these instructional methods and LMS capabilities elsewhere in this guide.

Question: Can you really earn online degrees in hands-on fields like nursing and engineering?

[Answer] Yes and no. While schools do offer online and hybrid programs in these disciplines, students must usually meet additional face-to-face training requirements. Schools usually establish these requirements with convenience in mind. For example, students in fields like nursing, teaching, and social work may be required to complete supervised fieldwork or clinical placements, but do so through local schools, hospitals/clinics, and other organizations. For example, students enrolled in the University of Virginia’s Engineers PRODUCED in Virginia program can complete all their engineering classes online in a live format while gaining practical experience through strategic internships with employers across the state. Some online programs do require students to complete on-campus training, seminars and assessments, but visits are often designed to minimize cost and travel. Students should consider these requirements when researching programs.

The Effectiveness and Credibility of Online Education

Question: is online education as effective as face-to-face instruction.

[Answer] Online education may seem relatively new, but years of research suggests it can be just as effective as traditional coursework, and often more so. According to a U.S. Department of Education analysis of more than 1,000 learning studies, online students tend to outperform classroom-based students across most disciplines and demographics. Another major review published the same year found that online students had the advantage 70 percent of the time, a gap authors projected would only widen as programs and technologies evolve.

While these reports list several plausible reasons students might learn more effectively online—that they have more control over their studies, or more opportunities for reflection—medium is only one of many factors that influence outcomes. Successful online students tend to be organized self-starters who can complete their work without reporting to a traditional classroom. Learning styles and preferences matter, too. Prospective students should research programs carefully to identify which ones offer the best chance of success.

Question: Do employers accept online degrees?

[Answer] All new learning innovations are met with some degree of scrutiny, but skepticism subsides as methods become more mainstream. Such is the case for online learning. Studies indicate employers who are familiar with online degrees tend to view them more favorably, and more employers are acquainted with them than ever before. The majority of colleges now offer online degrees, including most public, not-for-profit, and Ivy League universities. Online learning is also increasingly prevalent in the workplace as more companies invest in web-based employee training and development programs.

Question: Is online education more conducive to cheating?

[Answer] The concern that online students cheat more than traditional students is perhaps misplaced. When researchers at Marshall University conducted a study to measure the prevalence of cheating in online and classroom-based courses, they concluded, “somewhat surprisingly, the results showed higher rates of academic dishonesty in live courses.” The authors suggest the social familiarity of students in a classroom setting may lessen their sense of moral obligation.

Another reason cheating is less common in online programs is that colleges have adopted strict anti-cheating protocols and technologies. According to a report published by the Online Learning Consortium, some online courses require students to report to proctored testing facilities to complete exams, though virtual proctoring using shared screens and webcams is increasingly popular. Sophisticated identity verification tools like biometric analysis and facial recognition software are another way these schools combat cheating. Instructors often implement their own anti-cheating measures, too, like running research papers through plagiarism-detection programs or incorporating challenge-based questions in quizzes and exams. When combined, these measures can reduce academic dishonesty significantly.

In an interview with OnlineEducation.com, Dr. Susan Aldridge, president of Drexel University Online, discussed the overall approach many universities take to curbing cheating–an approach that includes both technical and policy-based prevention strategies.

“Like most online higher education providers, Drexel University employs a three-pronged approach to maintaining academic integrity among its virtual students,” said Dr. Aldridge. “We create solid barriers to cheating, while also making every effort to identify and sanction it as it occurs or directly after the fact. At the same time, we foster a principled community of inquiry that, in turn, motivates students to act in ethical ways. So with this triad in mind, we have implemented more than a few strategies and systems to ensure academic integrity.”

Question: How do I know if online education is right for me?

[Answer] Choosing the right degree program takes time and careful research no matter how one intends to study. Learning styles, goals, and programs always vary, but students considering online colleges must consider technical skills, ability to self-motivate, and other factors specific to the medium. A number of colleges and universities have developed assessments to help prospective students determine whether they are prepared for online learning. You can access a compilation of assessments from many different colleges online. Online course demos and trials can also be helpful, particularly if they are offered by schools of interest. Students can call online colleges and ask to speak an admissions representative who can clarify additional requirements and expectations.

Question: How do I know if an online degree program is credible?

[Answer] As with traditional colleges, some online schools are considered more credible than others. Reputation, post-graduation employment statistics, and enrollment numbers are not always reliable indicators of quality, which is why many experts advise students to look for accredited schools. In order for an online college to be accredited, a third-party organization must review its practices, finances, instructors, and other important criteria and certify that they meet certain quality standards. The certifying organization matters, too, since accreditation is only as reliable as the agency that grants it. Students should confirm online programs’ accrediting agencies are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation before submitting their applications.

Online Student Support Services

Question: do online schools offer the same student support services as traditional colleges.

[Answer] Colleges and universities tend to offer online students many of the same support services as campus-based students, though they may be administered differently. Instead of going to a campus library, online students may log in to virtual libraries stocked with digital materials, or work with research librarians by phone or email. Tutoring, academic advising, and career services might rely on video conferencing software, virtual meeting rooms, and other collaborative technologies. Some online colleges offer non-academic student support services as well. For example, Western Governor University’s Student Assistance Program provides online students with 24/7 access to personal counseling, legal advice, and financial consulting services. A list of student support services is usually readily available on online colleges’ websites.

Question: What technical skills do online students need?

[Answer] Online learning platforms are typically designed to be as user-friendly as possible: intuitive controls, clear instructions, and tutorials guide students through new tasks. However, students still need basic computer skills to access and navigate these programs. These skills include: using a keyboard and a mouse; running computer programs; using the Internet; sending and receiving email; using word processing programs; and using forums and other collaborative tools. Most online programs publish such requirements on their websites. If not, an admissions adviser can help.

Students who do not meet a program’s basic technical skills requirements are not without recourse. Online colleges frequently offer classes and simulations that help students establish computer literacy before beginning their studies. Microsoft’s online digital literacy curriculum is one free resource.

Question: What technology requirements must online students meet? What if they do not meet them?

[Answer] Technical requirements vary from one online degree program to the next, but most students need at minimum high-speed Internet access, a keyboard, and a computer capable of running specified online learning software. Courses using identity verification tools and voice- or web-conferencing software require webcams and microphones. Scanners and printers help, too. While online schools increasingly offer mobile apps for learning on-the-go, smartphones and tablets alone may not be sufficient.

Most online colleges list minimum technology requirements on their websites. Students who do not meet these requirements should contact schools directly to inquire about programs that can help. Some online schools lend or provide laptops, netbooks, or tablets for little to no cost, though students must generally return them right away if they withdraw from courses. Other colleges may offer grants and scholarships to help cover technical costs for students who qualify.

Question: Are online students eligible for financial aid?

[Answer] Qualifying online students enrolled in online degree programs are eligible for many of the same loans, scholarships, and grants as traditional campus-based students. They are also free to apply for federal and state financial aid so long as they:

Attend online programs accredited by an organization recognized by either the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.
Attend online schools that are authorized to operate in their state of residence.
Meet all additional application requirements, including those related to legal status, citizenship, age, and educational attainment.
Submit applications and all supporting materials by their deadlines.

Students can visit the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid website to review all eligibility requirements and deadlines, and to submit their Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). Note that many states, colleges, and organizations use FAFSA to determine students’ eligibility for other types of aid, including grants, scholarships, and loans. Students can contact prospective schools directly to speak with financial aid advisors.

Disclaimer: Financial aid is never guaranteed, even among eligible online students. Contact colleges and universities directly to clarify their policies

Question: Can students use military education benefits to pay for online education?

[Answer] Active-duty and veteran military service-members can typically apply their military education benefits toward an online degree, though they must still meet many of the same eligibility requirements detailed in the previous answer. Many state-level benefits have additional residency requirements. Most colleges have whole offices dedicated to helping these students understand and use their benefits effectively. They may also clarify applicable aid programs and requirements on their official websites. When in doubt, students should contact schools directly or report to the nearest Department of Veteran Affairs to learn more about their options.

" Educational Benefits of Online Learning ," Blackboard Learning, Presented by California Polytechnic State University, San Louis Obispo

" Four Proven Advantages of Online Learning (That are NOT the Cost, Accessibility or Flexibility) , Coursera Blog, Coursera

" Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning: A Meta-Analysis and Review of Online Learning Studies ," U.S. Department of Education

" Twenty years of research on the academic performance differences between traditional and distance learning ," M. Sachar, Y. Neumann, Journal of Online Learning and Teaching, Merlot

" The Market Value of Online Degrees as a Credible Credential ," Calvin D. Foggle, Devonda Elliott, accessed via New York University

" Cheating in the Digital Age: Do Students Cheat More in Online Courses ?" George Watson, James Sottile, accessed via the University of Georga

" Student Identity Verification Tools and Live Proctoring in Accordance With Regulations to Combat Academic Dishonesty in Distance Education ," Vincent Termini, Franklin Hayes, Online Learning Consortium

" Student Readiness for Online Learning ," G. Hanley, Merlot

" Recognized Accrediting Organizations ," Council for Higher Education Accreditation

" Digital Literacy ," Microsoft, Inc.

" Free Application for Federal Student Aid ," Office of Federal Student Aid, U.S. Department of Education

Online Education Guide

Expert Advice for Online Students
Instructional Design in Online Programs
Learning Management Systems
Online Student Trends and Success Factors
Online Teaching Methods
Student Guide to Understanding and Avoiding Plagiarism
Student Services for Online Learners

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Students’ online learning challenges during the pandemic and how they cope with them: The case of the Philippines

Jessie s. barrot.

College of Education, Arts and Sciences, National University, Manila, Philippines

Ian I. Llenares

Leo s. del rosario, associated data.

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Recently, the education system has faced an unprecedented health crisis that has shaken up its foundation. Given today’s uncertainties, it is vital to gain a nuanced understanding of students’ online learning experience in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although many studies have investigated this area, limited information is available regarding the challenges and the specific strategies that students employ to overcome them. Thus, this study attempts to fill in the void. Using a mixed-methods approach, the findings revealed that the online learning challenges of college students varied in terms of type and extent. Their greatest challenge was linked to their learning environment at home, while their least challenge was technological literacy and competency. The findings further revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic had the greatest impact on the quality of the learning experience and students’ mental health. In terms of strategies employed by students, the most frequently used were resource management and utilization, help-seeking, technical aptitude enhancement, time management, and learning environment control. Implications for classroom practice, policy-making, and future research are discussed.

Introduction

Since the 1990s, the world has seen significant changes in the landscape of education as a result of the ever-expanding influence of technology. One such development is the adoption of online learning across different learning contexts, whether formal or informal, academic and non-academic, and residential or remotely. We began to witness schools, teachers, and students increasingly adopt e-learning technologies that allow teachers to deliver instruction interactively, share resources seamlessly, and facilitate student collaboration and interaction (Elaish et al., 2019 ; Garcia et al., 2018 ). Although the efficacy of online learning has long been acknowledged by the education community (Barrot, 2020 , 2021 ; Cavanaugh et al., 2009 ; Kebritchi et al., 2017 ; Tallent-Runnels et al., 2006 ; Wallace, 2003 ), evidence on the challenges in its implementation continues to build up (e.g., Boelens et al., 2017 ; Rasheed et al., 2020 ).

Recently, the education system has faced an unprecedented health crisis (i.e., COVID-19 pandemic) that has shaken up its foundation. Thus, various governments across the globe have launched a crisis response to mitigate the adverse impact of the pandemic on education. This response includes, but is not limited to, curriculum revisions, provision for technological resources and infrastructure, shifts in the academic calendar, and policies on instructional delivery and assessment. Inevitably, these developments compelled educational institutions to migrate to full online learning until face-to-face instruction is allowed. The current circumstance is unique as it could aggravate the challenges experienced during online learning due to restrictions in movement and health protocols (Gonzales et al., 2020 ; Kapasia et al., 2020 ). Given today’s uncertainties, it is vital to gain a nuanced understanding of students’ online learning experience in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, many studies have investigated this area with a focus on students’ mental health (Copeland et al., 2021 ; Fawaz et al., 2021 ), home learning (Suryaman et al., 2020 ), self-regulation (Carter et al., 2020 ), virtual learning environment (Almaiah et al., 2020 ; Hew et al., 2020 ; Tang et al., 2020 ), and students’ overall learning experience (e.g., Adarkwah, 2021 ; Day et al., 2021 ; Khalil et al., 2020 ; Singh et al., 2020 ). There are two key differences that set the current study apart from the previous studies. First, it sheds light on the direct impact of the pandemic on the challenges that students experience in an online learning space. Second, the current study explores students’ coping strategies in this new learning setup. Addressing these areas would shed light on the extent of challenges that students experience in a full online learning space, particularly within the context of the pandemic. Meanwhile, our nuanced understanding of the strategies that students use to overcome their challenges would provide relevant information to school administrators and teachers to better support the online learning needs of students. This information would also be critical in revisiting the typology of strategies in an online learning environment.

Literature review

Education and the covid-19 pandemic.

In December 2019, an outbreak of a novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19, occurred in China and has spread rapidly across the globe within a few months. COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus that attacks the respiratory system (World Health Organization, 2020 ). As of January 2021, COVID-19 has infected 94 million people and has caused 2 million deaths in 191 countries and territories (John Hopkins University, 2021 ). This pandemic has created a massive disruption of the educational systems, affecting over 1.5 billion students. It has forced the government to cancel national examinations and the schools to temporarily close, cease face-to-face instruction, and strictly observe physical distancing. These events have sparked the digital transformation of higher education and challenged its ability to respond promptly and effectively. Schools adopted relevant technologies, prepared learning and staff resources, set systems and infrastructure, established new teaching protocols, and adjusted their curricula. However, the transition was smooth for some schools but rough for others, particularly those from developing countries with limited infrastructure (Pham & Nguyen, 2020 ; Simbulan, 2020 ).

Inevitably, schools and other learning spaces were forced to migrate to full online learning as the world continues the battle to control the vicious spread of the virus. Online learning refers to a learning environment that uses the Internet and other technological devices and tools for synchronous and asynchronous instructional delivery and management of academic programs (Usher & Barak, 2020 ; Huang, 2019 ). Synchronous online learning involves real-time interactions between the teacher and the students, while asynchronous online learning occurs without a strict schedule for different students (Singh & Thurman, 2019 ). Within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, online learning has taken the status of interim remote teaching that serves as a response to an exigency. However, the migration to a new learning space has faced several major concerns relating to policy, pedagogy, logistics, socioeconomic factors, technology, and psychosocial factors (Donitsa-Schmidt & Ramot, 2020 ; Khalil et al., 2020 ; Varea & González-Calvo, 2020 ). With reference to policies, government education agencies and schools scrambled to create fool-proof policies on governance structure, teacher management, and student management. Teachers, who were used to conventional teaching delivery, were also obliged to embrace technology despite their lack of technological literacy. To address this problem, online learning webinars and peer support systems were launched. On the part of the students, dropout rates increased due to economic, psychological, and academic reasons. Academically, although it is virtually possible for students to learn anything online, learning may perhaps be less than optimal, especially in courses that require face-to-face contact and direct interactions (Franchi, 2020 ).

Related studies

Recently, there has been an explosion of studies relating to the new normal in education. While many focused on national policies, professional development, and curriculum, others zeroed in on the specific learning experience of students during the pandemic. Among these are Copeland et al. ( 2021 ) and Fawaz et al. ( 2021 ) who examined the impact of COVID-19 on college students’ mental health and their coping mechanisms. Copeland et al. ( 2021 ) reported that the pandemic adversely affected students’ behavioral and emotional functioning, particularly attention and externalizing problems (i.e., mood and wellness behavior), which were caused by isolation, economic/health effects, and uncertainties. In Fawaz et al.’s ( 2021 ) study, students raised their concerns on learning and evaluation methods, overwhelming task load, technical difficulties, and confinement. To cope with these problems, students actively dealt with the situation by seeking help from their teachers and relatives and engaging in recreational activities. These active-oriented coping mechanisms of students were aligned with Carter et al.’s ( 2020 ), who explored students’ self-regulation strategies.

In another study, Tang et al. ( 2020 ) examined the efficacy of different online teaching modes among engineering students. Using a questionnaire, the results revealed that students were dissatisfied with online learning in general, particularly in the aspect of communication and question-and-answer modes. Nonetheless, the combined model of online teaching with flipped classrooms improved students’ attention, academic performance, and course evaluation. A parallel study was undertaken by Hew et al. ( 2020 ), who transformed conventional flipped classrooms into fully online flipped classes through a cloud-based video conferencing app. Their findings suggested that these two types of learning environments were equally effective. They also offered ways on how to effectively adopt videoconferencing-assisted online flipped classrooms. Unlike the two studies, Suryaman et al. ( 2020 ) looked into how learning occurred at home during the pandemic. Their findings showed that students faced many obstacles in a home learning environment, such as lack of mastery of technology, high Internet cost, and limited interaction/socialization between and among students. In a related study, Kapasia et al. ( 2020 ) investigated how lockdown impacts students’ learning performance. Their findings revealed that the lockdown made significant disruptions in students’ learning experience. The students also reported some challenges that they faced during their online classes. These include anxiety, depression, poor Internet service, and unfavorable home learning environment, which were aggravated when students are marginalized and from remote areas. Contrary to Kapasia et al.’s ( 2020 ) findings, Gonzales et al. ( 2020 ) found that confinement of students during the pandemic had significant positive effects on their performance. They attributed these results to students’ continuous use of learning strategies which, in turn, improved their learning efficiency.

Finally, there are those that focused on students’ overall online learning experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. One such study was that of Singh et al. ( 2020 ), who examined students’ experience during the COVID-19 pandemic using a quantitative descriptive approach. Their findings indicated that students appreciated the use of online learning during the pandemic. However, half of them believed that the traditional classroom setting was more effective than the online learning platform. Methodologically, the researchers acknowledge that the quantitative nature of their study restricts a deeper interpretation of the findings. Unlike the above study, Khalil et al. ( 2020 ) qualitatively explored the efficacy of synchronized online learning in a medical school in Saudi Arabia. The results indicated that students generally perceive synchronous online learning positively, particularly in terms of time management and efficacy. However, they also reported technical (internet connectivity and poor utility of tools), methodological (content delivery), and behavioral (individual personality) challenges. Their findings also highlighted the failure of the online learning environment to address the needs of courses that require hands-on practice despite efforts to adopt virtual laboratories. In a parallel study, Adarkwah ( 2021 ) examined students’ online learning experience during the pandemic using a narrative inquiry approach. The findings indicated that Ghanaian students considered online learning as ineffective due to several challenges that they encountered. Among these were lack of social interaction among students, poor communication, lack of ICT resources, and poor learning outcomes. More recently, Day et al. ( 2021 ) examined the immediate impact of COVID-19 on students’ learning experience. Evidence from six institutions across three countries revealed some positive experiences and pre-existing inequities. Among the reported challenges are lack of appropriate devices, poor learning space at home, stress among students, and lack of fieldwork and access to laboratories.

Although there are few studies that report the online learning challenges that higher education students experience during the pandemic, limited information is available regarding the specific strategies that they use to overcome them. It is in this context that the current study was undertaken. This mixed-methods study investigates students’ online learning experience in higher education. Specifically, the following research questions are addressed: (1) What is the extent of challenges that students experience in an online learning environment? (2) How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact the online learning challenges that students experience? (3) What strategies did students use to overcome the challenges?

Conceptual framework

The typology of challenges examined in this study is largely based on Rasheed et al.’s ( 2020 ) review of students’ experience in an online learning environment. These challenges are grouped into five general clusters, namely self-regulation (SRC), technological literacy and competency (TLCC), student isolation (SIC), technological sufficiency (TSC), and technological complexity (TCC) challenges (Rasheed et al., 2020 , p. 5). SRC refers to a set of behavior by which students exercise control over their emotions, actions, and thoughts to achieve learning objectives. TLCC relates to a set of challenges about students’ ability to effectively use technology for learning purposes. SIC relates to the emotional discomfort that students experience as a result of being lonely and secluded from their peers. TSC refers to a set of challenges that students experience when accessing available online technologies for learning. Finally, there is TCC which involves challenges that students experience when exposed to complex and over-sufficient technologies for online learning.

To extend Rasheed et al. ( 2020 ) categories and to cover other potential challenges during online classes, two more clusters were added, namely learning resource challenges (LRC) and learning environment challenges (LEC) (Buehler, 2004 ; Recker et al., 2004 ; Seplaki et al., 2014 ; Xue et al., 2020 ). LRC refers to a set of challenges that students face relating to their use of library resources and instructional materials, whereas LEC is a set of challenges that students experience related to the condition of their learning space that shapes their learning experiences, beliefs, and attitudes. Since learning environment at home and learning resources available to students has been reported to significantly impact the quality of learning and their achievement of learning outcomes (Drane et al., 2020 ; Suryaman et al., 2020 ), the inclusion of LRC and LEC would allow us to capture other important challenges that students experience during the pandemic, particularly those from developing regions. This comprehensive list would provide us a clearer and detailed picture of students’ experiences when engaged in online learning in an emergency. Given the restrictions in mobility at macro and micro levels during the pandemic, it is also expected that such conditions would aggravate these challenges. Therefore, this paper intends to understand these challenges from students’ perspectives since they are the ones that are ultimately impacted when the issue is about the learning experience. We also seek to explore areas that provide inconclusive findings, thereby setting the path for future research.

Material and methods

The present study adopted a descriptive, mixed-methods approach to address the research questions. This approach allowed the researchers to collect complex data about students’ experience in an online learning environment and to clearly understand the phenomena from their perspective.

Participants

This study involved 200 (66 male and 134 female) students from a private higher education institution in the Philippines. These participants were Psychology, Physical Education, and Sports Management majors whose ages ranged from 17 to 25 ( x ̅ = 19.81; SD = 1.80). The students have been engaged in online learning for at least two terms in both synchronous and asynchronous modes. The students belonged to low- and middle-income groups but were equipped with the basic online learning equipment (e.g., computer, headset, speakers) and computer skills necessary for their participation in online classes. Table Table1 1 shows the primary and secondary platforms that students used during their online classes. The primary platforms are those that are formally adopted by teachers and students in a structured academic context, whereas the secondary platforms are those that are informally and spontaneously used by students and teachers for informal learning and to supplement instructional delivery. Note that almost all students identified MS Teams as their primary platform because it is the official learning management system of the university.

Participants’ Online Learning Platforms

Learning Platforms	Classification
	Primary		Supplementary

Blackboard	-	-	1	0.50
Canvas	-	-	1	0.50
Edmodo	-	-	1	0.50
Facebook	9	4.50	170	85.00
Google Classroom	5	2.50	15	7.50
Moodle	-	-	7	3.50
MS Teams	184	92.00	-	-
Schoology	1	0.50	-	-
Twitter	-	-	-	-
Zoom	1	0.50	5	2.50
	200	100.00	200	100.00

Informed consent was sought from the participants prior to their involvement. Before students signed the informed consent form, they were oriented about the objectives of the study and the extent of their involvement. They were also briefed about the confidentiality of information, their anonymity, and their right to refuse to participate in the investigation. Finally, the participants were informed that they would incur no additional cost from their participation.

Instrument and data collection

The data were collected using a retrospective self-report questionnaire and a focused group discussion (FGD). A self-report questionnaire was considered appropriate because the indicators relate to affective responses and attitude (Araujo et al., 2017 ; Barrot, 2016 ; Spector, 1994 ). Although the participants may tell more than what they know or do in a self-report survey (Matsumoto, 1994 ), this challenge was addressed by explaining to them in detail each of the indicators and using methodological triangulation through FGD. The questionnaire was divided into four sections: (1) participant’s personal information section, (2) the background information on the online learning environment, (3) the rating scale section for the online learning challenges, (4) the open-ended section. The personal information section asked about the students’ personal information (name, school, course, age, and sex), while the background information section explored the online learning mode and platforms (primary and secondary) used in class, and students’ length of engagement in online classes. The rating scale section contained 37 items that relate to SRC (6 items), TLCC (10 items), SIC (4 items), TSC (6 items), TCC (3 items), LRC (4 items), and LEC (4 items). The Likert scale uses six scores (i.e., 5– to a very great extent , 4– to a great extent , 3– to a moderate extent , 2– to some extent , 1– to a small extent , and 0 –not at all/negligible ) assigned to each of the 37 items. Finally, the open-ended questions asked about other challenges that students experienced, the impact of the pandemic on the intensity or extent of the challenges they experienced, and the strategies that the participants employed to overcome the eight different types of challenges during online learning. Two experienced educators and researchers reviewed the questionnaire for clarity, accuracy, and content and face validity. The piloting of the instrument revealed that the tool had good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.96).

The FGD protocol contains two major sections: the participants’ background information and the main questions. The background information section asked about the students’ names, age, courses being taken, online learning mode used in class. The items in the main questions section covered questions relating to the students’ overall attitude toward online learning during the pandemic, the reasons for the scores they assigned to each of the challenges they experienced, the impact of the pandemic on students’ challenges, and the strategies they employed to address the challenges. The same experts identified above validated the FGD protocol.

Both the questionnaire and the FGD were conducted online via Google survey and MS Teams, respectively. It took approximately 20 min to complete the questionnaire, while the FGD lasted for about 90 min. Students were allowed to ask for clarification and additional explanations relating to the questionnaire content, FGD, and procedure. Online surveys and interview were used because of the ongoing lockdown in the city. For the purpose of triangulation, 20 (10 from Psychology and 10 from Physical Education and Sports Management) randomly selected students were invited to participate in the FGD. Two separate FGDs were scheduled for each group and were facilitated by researcher 2 and researcher 3, respectively. The interviewers ensured that the participants were comfortable and open to talk freely during the FGD to avoid social desirability biases (Bergen & Labonté, 2020 ). These were done by informing the participants that there are no wrong responses and that their identity and responses would be handled with the utmost confidentiality. With the permission of the participants, the FGD was recorded to ensure that all relevant information was accurately captured for transcription and analysis.

Data analysis

To address the research questions, we used both quantitative and qualitative analyses. For the quantitative analysis, we entered all the data into an excel spreadsheet. Then, we computed the mean scores ( M ) and standard deviations ( SD ) to determine the level of challenges experienced by students during online learning. The mean score for each descriptor was interpreted using the following scheme: 4.18 to 5.00 ( to a very great extent ), 3.34 to 4.17 ( to a great extent ), 2.51 to 3.33 ( to a moderate extent ), 1.68 to 2.50 ( to some extent ), 0.84 to 1.67 ( to a small extent ), and 0 to 0.83 ( not at all/negligible ). The equal interval was adopted because it produces more reliable and valid information than other types of scales (Cicchetti et al., 2006 ).

For the qualitative data, we analyzed the students’ responses in the open-ended questions and the transcribed FGD using the predetermined categories in the conceptual framework. Specifically, we used multilevel coding in classifying the codes from the transcripts (Birks & Mills, 2011 ). To do this, we identified the relevant codes from the responses of the participants and categorized these codes based on the similarities or relatedness of their properties and dimensions. Then, we performed a constant comparative and progressive analysis of cases to allow the initially identified subcategories to emerge and take shape. To ensure the reliability of the analysis, two coders independently analyzed the qualitative data. Both coders familiarize themselves with the purpose, research questions, research method, and codes and coding scheme of the study. They also had a calibration session and discussed ways on how they could consistently analyze the qualitative data. Percent of agreement between the two coders was 86 percent. Any disagreements in the analysis were discussed by the coders until an agreement was achieved.

This study investigated students’ online learning experience in higher education within the context of the pandemic. Specifically, we identified the extent of challenges that students experienced, how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted their online learning experience, and the strategies that they used to confront these challenges.

The extent of students’ online learning challenges

Table Table2 2 presents the mean scores and SD for the extent of challenges that students’ experienced during online learning. Overall, the students experienced the identified challenges to a moderate extent ( x ̅ = 2.62, SD = 1.03) with scores ranging from x ̅ = 1.72 ( to some extent ) to x ̅ = 3.58 ( to a great extent ). More specifically, the greatest challenge that students experienced was related to the learning environment ( x ̅ = 3.49, SD = 1.27), particularly on distractions at home, limitations in completing the requirements for certain subjects, and difficulties in selecting the learning areas and study schedule. It is, however, found that the least challenge was on technological literacy and competency ( x ̅ = 2.10, SD = 1.13), particularly on knowledge and training in the use of technology, technological intimidation, and resistance to learning technologies. Other areas that students experienced the least challenge are Internet access under TSC and procrastination under SRC. Nonetheless, nearly half of the students’ responses per indicator rated the challenges they experienced as moderate (14 of the 37 indicators), particularly in TCC ( x ̅ = 2.51, SD = 1.31), SIC ( x ̅ = 2.77, SD = 1.34), and LRC ( x ̅ = 2.93, SD = 1.31).

The Extent of Students’ Challenges during the Interim Online Learning

CHALLENGES
Self-regulation challenges (SRC)	2.37	1.16
1. I delay tasks related to my studies so that they are either not fully completed by their deadline or had to be rushed to be completed.	1.84	1.47
2. I fail to get appropriate help during online classes.	2.04	1.44
3. I lack the ability to control my own thoughts, emotions, and actions during online classes.	2.51	1.65
4. I have limited preparation before an online class.	2.68	1.54
5. I have poor time management skills during online classes.	2.50	1.53
6. I fail to properly use online peer learning strategies (i.e., learning from one another to better facilitate learning such as peer tutoring, group discussion, and peer feedback).	2.34	1.50
Technological literacy and competency challenges (TLCC)	2.10	1.13
7. I lack competence and proficiency in using various interfaces or systems that allow me to control a computer or another embedded system for studying.	2.05	1.39
8. I resist learning technology.	1.89	1.46
9. I am distracted by an overly complex technology.	2.44	1.43
10. I have difficulties in learning a new technology.	2.06	1.50
11. I lack the ability to effectively use technology to facilitate learning.	2.08	1.51
12. I lack knowledge and training in the use of technology.	1.76	1.43
13. I am intimidated by the technologies used for learning.	1.89	1.44
14. I resist and/or am confused when getting appropriate help during online classes.	2.19	1.52
15. I have poor understanding of directions and expectations during online learning.	2.16	1.56
16. I perceive technology as a barrier to getting help from others during online classes.	2.47	1.43
Student isolation challenges (SIC)	2.77	1.34
17. I feel emotionally disconnected or isolated during online classes.	2.71	1.58
18. I feel disinterested during online class.	2.54	1.53
19. I feel unease and uncomfortable in using video projection, microphones, and speakers.	2.90	1.57
20. I feel uncomfortable being the center of attention during online classes.	2.93	1.67
Technological sufficiency challenges (TSC)	2.31	1.29
21. I have an insufficient access to learning technology.	2.27	1.52
22. I experience inequalities with regard to to and use of technologies during online classes because of my socioeconomic, physical, and psychological condition.	2.34	1.68
23. I have an outdated technology.	2.04	1.62
24. I do not have Internet access during online classes.	1.72	1.65
25. I have low bandwidth and slow processing speeds.	2.66	1.62
26. I experience technical difficulties in completing my assignments.	2.84	1.54
Technological complexity challenges (TCC)	2.51	1.31
27. I am distracted by the complexity of the technology during online classes.	2.34	1.46
28. I experience difficulties in using complex technology.	2.33	1.51
29. I experience difficulties when using longer videos for learning.	2.87	1.48
Learning resource challenges (LRC)	2.93	1.31
30. I have an insufficient access to library resources.	2.86	1.72
31. I have an insufficient access to laboratory equipment and materials.	3.16	1.71
32. I have limited access to textbooks, worksheets, and other instructional materials.	2.63	1.57
33. I experience financial challenges when accessing learning resources and technology.	3.07	1.57
Learning environment challenges (LEC)	3.49	1.27
34. I experience online distractions such as social media during online classes.	3.20	1.58
35. I experience distractions at home as a learning environment.	3.55	1.54
36. I have difficulties in selecting the best time and area for learning at home.	3.40	1.58
37. Home set-up limits the completion of certain requirements for my subject (e.g., laboratory and physical activities).	3.58	1.52
AVERAGE	2.62	1.03

Out of 200 students, 181 responded to the question about other challenges that they experienced. Most of their responses were already covered by the seven predetermined categories, except for 18 responses related to physical discomfort ( N = 5) and financial challenges ( N = 13). For instance, S108 commented that “when it comes to eyes and head, my eyes and head get ache if the session of class was 3 h straight in front of my gadget.” In the same vein, S194 reported that “the long exposure to gadgets especially laptop, resulting in body pain & headaches.” With reference to physical financial challenges, S66 noted that “not all the time I have money to load”, while S121 claimed that “I don't know until when are we going to afford budgeting our money instead of buying essentials.”

Impact of the pandemic on students’ online learning challenges

Another objective of this study was to identify how COVID-19 influenced the online learning challenges that students experienced. As shown in Table Table3, 3 , most of the students’ responses were related to teaching and learning quality ( N = 86) and anxiety and other mental health issues ( N = 52). Regarding the adverse impact on teaching and learning quality, most of the comments relate to the lack of preparation for the transition to online platforms (e.g., S23, S64), limited infrastructure (e.g., S13, S65, S99, S117), and poor Internet service (e.g., S3, S9, S17, S41, S65, S99). For the anxiety and mental health issues, most students reported that the anxiety, boredom, sadness, and isolation they experienced had adversely impacted the way they learn (e.g., S11, S130), completing their tasks/activities (e.g., S56, S156), and their motivation to continue studying (e.g., S122, S192). The data also reveal that COVID-19 aggravated the financial difficulties experienced by some students ( N = 16), consequently affecting their online learning experience. This financial impact mainly revolved around the lack of funding for their online classes as a result of their parents’ unemployment and the high cost of Internet data (e.g., S18, S113, S167). Meanwhile, few concerns were raised in relation to COVID-19’s impact on mobility ( N = 7) and face-to-face interactions ( N = 7). For instance, some commented that the lack of face-to-face interaction with her classmates had a detrimental effect on her learning (S46) and socialization skills (S36), while others reported that restrictions in mobility limited their learning experience (S78, S110). Very few comments were related to no effect ( N = 4) and positive effect ( N = 2). The above findings suggest the pandemic had additive adverse effects on students’ online learning experience.

Summary of students’ responses on the impact of COVID-19 on their online learning experience

Areas		Sample Responses
Reduces the quality of learning experience	86	(S13) (S65) (S118)
Causes anxiety and other mental health issues	52	(S11) (S56) (S192)
Aggravates financial problems	16	(S18) (S167)
Limits interaction	7	(S36) (S46)
Restricts mobility	7	(S78) (S110)
No effect	4	(S100) (S168)
Positive effect	2	(S35) (S112)

Students’ strategies to overcome challenges in an online learning environment

The third objective of this study is to identify the strategies that students employed to overcome the different online learning challenges they experienced. Table Table4 4 presents that the most commonly used strategies used by students were resource management and utilization ( N = 181), help-seeking ( N = 155), technical aptitude enhancement ( N = 122), time management ( N = 98), and learning environment control ( N = 73). Not surprisingly, the top two strategies were also the most consistently used across different challenges. However, looking closely at each of the seven challenges, the frequency of using a particular strategy varies. For TSC and LRC, the most frequently used strategy was resource management and utilization ( N = 52, N = 89, respectively), whereas technical aptitude enhancement was the students’ most preferred strategy to address TLCC ( N = 77) and TCC ( N = 38). In the case of SRC, SIC, and LEC, the most frequently employed strategies were time management ( N = 71), psychological support ( N = 53), and learning environment control ( N = 60). In terms of consistency, help-seeking appears to be the most consistent across the different challenges in an online learning environment. Table Table4 4 further reveals that strategies used by students within a specific type of challenge vary.

Students’ Strategies to Overcome Online Learning Challenges

Strategies	SRC	TLCC	SIC	TSC	TCC	LRC	LEC	Total
Adaptation	7	1	11	4	10	10	17	60
Cognitive aptitude enhancement	2	3	0	0	2	4	2	13
Concentration and focus	13	2	7	0	4	5	12	43
Focus and concentration	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	3
Goal-setting	8	0	0	2	2	0	1	13
Help-seeking	13	42	2	36	16	28	18	155
Learning environment control	1	3	0	6	3	0	60	73
Motivation	2	0	4	0	5	1	0	12
Optimism	4	5	9	15	9	2	3	47
Peer learning	3	2	6	0	1	0	0	12
Psychosocial support	3	0	53	1	0	0	0	57
Reflection	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	6
Relaxation and recreation	16	1	13	0	7	0	0	37
Resource management & utilization	3	11	0	52	20	89	6	181
Self-belief	0	1	11	0	1	0	1	14
Self-discipline	12	3	3	6	3	1	4	32
Self-study	6	0	0	0	0	1	0	7
Technical aptitude enhancement	0	77	0	7	38	0	0	122
Thought control	6	0	2	0	1	1	3	13
Time management	71	3	2	10	4	3	5	98
Transcendental strategies	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2

Discussion and conclusions

The current study explores the challenges that students experienced in an online learning environment and how the pandemic impacted their online learning experience. The findings revealed that the online learning challenges of students varied in terms of type and extent. Their greatest challenge was linked to their learning environment at home, while their least challenge was technological literacy and competency. Based on the students’ responses, their challenges were also found to be aggravated by the pandemic, especially in terms of quality of learning experience, mental health, finances, interaction, and mobility. With reference to previous studies (i.e., Adarkwah, 2021 ; Copeland et al., 2021 ; Day et al., 2021 ; Fawaz et al., 2021 ; Kapasia et al., 2020 ; Khalil et al., 2020 ; Singh et al., 2020 ), the current study has complemented their findings on the pedagogical, logistical, socioeconomic, technological, and psychosocial online learning challenges that students experience within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, this study extended previous studies and our understanding of students’ online learning experience by identifying both the presence and extent of online learning challenges and by shedding light on the specific strategies they employed to overcome them.

Overall findings indicate that the extent of challenges and strategies varied from one student to another. Hence, they should be viewed as a consequence of interaction several many factors. Students’ responses suggest that their online learning challenges and strategies were mediated by the resources available to them, their interaction with their teachers and peers, and the school’s existing policies and guidelines for online learning. In the context of the pandemic, the imposed lockdowns and students’ socioeconomic condition aggravated the challenges that students experience.

While most studies revealed that technology use and competency were the most common challenges that students face during the online classes (see Rasheed et al., 2020 ), the case is a bit different in developing countries in times of pandemic. As the findings have shown, the learning environment is the greatest challenge that students needed to hurdle, particularly distractions at home (e.g., noise) and limitations in learning space and facilities. This data suggests that online learning challenges during the pandemic somehow vary from the typical challenges that students experience in a pre-pandemic online learning environment. One possible explanation for this result is that restriction in mobility may have aggravated this challenge since they could not go to the school or other learning spaces beyond the vicinity of their respective houses. As shown in the data, the imposition of lockdown restricted students’ learning experience (e.g., internship and laboratory experiments), limited their interaction with peers and teachers, caused depression, stress, and anxiety among students, and depleted the financial resources of those who belong to lower-income group. All of these adversely impacted students’ learning experience. This finding complemented earlier reports on the adverse impact of lockdown on students’ learning experience and the challenges posed by the home learning environment (e.g., Day et al., 2021 ; Kapasia et al., 2020 ). Nonetheless, further studies are required to validate the impact of restrictions on mobility on students’ online learning experience. The second reason that may explain the findings relates to students’ socioeconomic profile. Consistent with the findings of Adarkwah ( 2021 ) and Day et al. ( 2021 ), the current study reveals that the pandemic somehow exposed the many inequities in the educational systems within and across countries. In the case of a developing country, families from lower socioeconomic strata (as in the case of the students in this study) have limited learning space at home, access to quality Internet service, and online learning resources. This is the reason the learning environment and learning resources recorded the highest level of challenges. The socioeconomic profile of the students (i.e., low and middle-income group) is the same reason financial problems frequently surfaced from their responses. These students frequently linked the lack of financial resources to their access to the Internet, educational materials, and equipment necessary for online learning. Therefore, caution should be made when interpreting and extending the findings of this study to other contexts, particularly those from higher socioeconomic strata.

Among all the different online learning challenges, the students experienced the least challenge on technological literacy and competency. This is not surprising considering a plethora of research confirming Gen Z students’ (born since 1996) high technological and digital literacy (Barrot, 2018 ; Ng, 2012 ; Roblek et al., 2019 ). Regarding the impact of COVID-19 on students’ online learning experience, the findings reveal that teaching and learning quality and students’ mental health were the most affected. The anxiety that students experienced does not only come from the threats of COVID-19 itself but also from social and physical restrictions, unfamiliarity with new learning platforms, technical issues, and concerns about financial resources. These findings are consistent with that of Copeland et al. ( 2021 ) and Fawaz et al. ( 2021 ), who reported the adverse effects of the pandemic on students’ mental and emotional well-being. This data highlights the need to provide serious attention to the mediating effects of mental health, restrictions in mobility, and preparedness in delivering online learning.

Nonetheless, students employed a variety of strategies to overcome the challenges they faced during online learning. For instance, to address the home learning environment problems, students talked to their family (e.g., S12, S24), transferred to a quieter place (e.g., S7, S 26), studied at late night where all family members are sleeping already (e.g., S51), and consulted with their classmates and teachers (e.g., S3, S9, S156, S193). To overcome the challenges in learning resources, students used the Internet (e.g., S20, S27, S54, S91), joined Facebook groups that share free resources (e.g., S5), asked help from family members (e.g., S16), used resources available at home (e.g., S32), and consulted with the teachers (e.g., S124). The varying strategies of students confirmed earlier reports on the active orientation that students take when faced with academic- and non-academic-related issues in an online learning space (see Fawaz et al., 2021 ). The specific strategies that each student adopted may have been shaped by different factors surrounding him/her, such as available resources, student personality, family structure, relationship with peers and teacher, and aptitude. To expand this study, researchers may further investigate this area and explore how and why different factors shape their use of certain strategies.

Several implications can be drawn from the findings of this study. First, this study highlighted the importance of emergency response capability and readiness of higher education institutions in case another crisis strikes again. Critical areas that need utmost attention include (but not limited to) national and institutional policies, protocol and guidelines, technological infrastructure and resources, instructional delivery, staff development, potential inequalities, and collaboration among key stakeholders (i.e., parents, students, teachers, school leaders, industry, government education agencies, and community). Second, the findings have expanded our understanding of the different challenges that students might confront when we abruptly shift to full online learning, particularly those from countries with limited resources, poor Internet infrastructure, and poor home learning environment. Schools with a similar learning context could use the findings of this study in developing and enhancing their respective learning continuity plans to mitigate the adverse impact of the pandemic. This study would also provide students relevant information needed to reflect on the possible strategies that they may employ to overcome the challenges. These are critical information necessary for effective policymaking, decision-making, and future implementation of online learning. Third, teachers may find the results useful in providing proper interventions to address the reported challenges, particularly in the most critical areas. Finally, the findings provided us a nuanced understanding of the interdependence of learning tools, learners, and learning outcomes within an online learning environment; thus, giving us a multiperspective of hows and whys of a successful migration to full online learning.

Some limitations in this study need to be acknowledged and addressed in future studies. One limitation of this study is that it exclusively focused on students’ perspectives. Future studies may widen the sample by including all other actors taking part in the teaching–learning process. Researchers may go deeper by investigating teachers’ views and experience to have a complete view of the situation and how different elements interact between them or affect the others. Future studies may also identify some teacher-related factors that could influence students’ online learning experience. In the case of students, their age, sex, and degree programs may be examined in relation to the specific challenges and strategies they experience. Although the study involved a relatively large sample size, the participants were limited to college students from a Philippine university. To increase the robustness of the findings, future studies may expand the learning context to K-12 and several higher education institutions from different geographical regions. As a final note, this pandemic has undoubtedly reshaped and pushed the education system to its limits. However, this unprecedented event is the same thing that will make the education system stronger and survive future threats.

Authors’ contributions

Jessie Barrot led the planning, prepared the instrument, wrote the report, and processed and analyzed data. Ian Llenares participated in the planning, fielded the instrument, processed and analyzed data, reviewed the instrument, and contributed to report writing. Leo del Rosario participated in the planning, fielded the instrument, processed and analyzed data, reviewed the instrument, and contributed to report writing.

No funding was received in the conduct of this study.

Availability of data and materials

Declarations.

The study has undergone appropriate ethics protocol.

Informed consent was sought from the participants.

Authors consented the publication. Participants consented to publication as long as confidentiality is observed.

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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Top trends, takeaways point to online learning’s staying power

The bestcolleges report aims to identify and track long-term trends in online education at u.s. colleges and universities.

Key points:

Student satisfaction with online learning programs remains steady
From crisis to catalyst: Online education four years later
Continued demand for online learning demonstrates a “major shift”
For more news on online learning, visit eCN’s Teaching & Learning hub

The convenience and flexibility associated with online learning continue to make the learning modality a popular option for students, with existing work and family commitments the biggest motivators of online enrollment, according to BestColleges’ 10th annual Online Education Trends Report .

The survey of 1,001 online students and 184 college and university administrators presents findings in five categories: the online learning experience, marketing online programs and recruiting online students, online student satisfaction, AI in online education, and planning for the future.

Key findings include:

The online learning experience

Dealing with unexpected life events (25 percent) and paying for higher education (24 percent) are the top challenges to online program completion, as reported by online program graduates
The biggest concern about the online learning experience is work-life-school balance, reported by 29 percent of student respondents overall and more than one-third (34 percent) of prospective students
Seventy-seven percent of students currently enrolled in fully online programs are enrolled full time. Of that group, 53 percent are also employed either full time (43 percent) or part time (10 percent)

Marketing online programs and recruiting online students

Making a decision about online enrollment can be challenging–prospective students’ top concerns are tuition costs and program fees (52 percent) and finding a program that meets [their] needs and interests (34 percent)
Online program graduates say that if they could go back, they would do more research about program costs and financial aid (27 percent), compare more programs before enrolling (26 percent), have better technology resources (20 percent), and better understand how long it would take to complete the program (19 percent)
Online students say that skills-based training and education are important to them (88 percent), and 58 percent of prospective students would consider microcredential and certificate programs in the future

Online student satisfaction

Student perception of the potential return on investment (ROI) of online learning continues to be strong–93 percent of all students say their online degree has or will have a positive ROI
Ninety-seven percent of prospective online students, currently enrolled online students, and online program graduates would recommend online education to others
Eighty-one percent of student respondents say that online is better than or equal to on-campus learning

AI in online education

Most administrators (73 percent) see AI as a beneficial innovation in online education, and 58 percent of currently enrolled online students say they are already using it to complete class assignments and exams
Existing institutional policies for faculty use of AI are only reported by 17 percent of administrators, but 66 percent say there is training available for those interested in exploring the use of AI tools for online teaching
Use of AI in online program admissions seems to be in the early stages, but 41 percent of students surveyed say they would trust schools to use it to sort applications, and 39 percent would trust schools to use AI to make admissions decisions

Planning for the future

Forty percent of administrators say their institutions are planning to increase online program development budgets in the coming year; this is a decrease from 47 percent in 2023, but an increase from 35 percent in 2021, the first full year of the COVID-19 pandemic
College and university administrators predict the most online enrollment growth over the next five years will be in health professions (29 percent), computer sciences (26 percent), and business (15 percent) programs
Most online program graduates (73 percent) say their programs prepared them for employment after graduation, and 31 percent say they were extremely well prepared

The report also offers valuable takeaways and considerations for higher-ed leaders.

Online students encounter challenges in reaching graduation as they also seek work-life balance: The convenience of online learning continues to motivate students who are already managing other commitments, including jobs. Other concerns related to staying on track academically and not going into debt need to be actively addressed as institutions develop support services for these learners.

Meet online students where they are with what they need: To reach prospective students, institutions should focus on providing details about the financial aspects of enrollment as well as what kinds of personalized support they can expect while enrolled. School websites and program webpages should be accurate, up-to-date, and easy to use.

Career and employment goals make microcredentials attractive to students: Short-term, skills-based learning is new to many students, but investing in these programs could attract those concerned about the cost of time and money required for traditional degree programs. Program design and development should consider hiring trends and be coordinated with institutional career development services.

Student satisfaction with online education is positive and steady: Overall, students who make the decision to enroll in online programs do so with high expectations for the value of the experience. This holds for those who are currently enrolled and those who have graduated from these programs. Tapping into these recommendations at the institutional level may be helpful for those conducting outreach to older potential applicants.

AI adoption in higher education brings benefits and ethical concerns: While many higher education professionals and students acknowledge the benefits of AI tools in their work, there are also challenges related to ethical use, privacy, and plagiarism. Institutions that have initiated training and policies for stakeholders must strive to stay current, and those that have not yet addressed these areas must do so quickly.

Online education success requires purposeful and effective institutional support: Higher education is changing faster than ever before for all stakeholders. Planning for the future should include a focus of all resources on the development of programs and services that not only meet the needs and preferences of students but also serve to prepare those students to prosper in a rapidly changing world of work.

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Two-thirds of colleges are prioritizing online versions of on-campus programs, poll finds

The ninth Changing Landscape of Online Education survey offers a glimpse into the distance education marketplace.

Dive Brief:

Roughly two-thirds of colleges are making it a priority to create virtual versions of on-campus classes and programs, according to an annual survey of chief online learning officers .
College officials likely see creating online versions of existing programs as easier than launching entirely new academic programs, according to the report.
However, 48% of chief online learning officers still said their priorities included launching new online programs with no campus equivalent.

Dive Insight:

The ninth Changing Landscape of Online Education report — from Eduventures Research, Quality Matters and Educause — offers a look at how colleges are approaching online education.

“ While institutions exhibit varying approaches and priorities in their online strategies, there appears to be a common acknowledgment of the driving forces behind the expansion of online offerings and associated marketing efforts : recruiting new students and fulfilling current students’ needs ,” the report’s authors wrote.

The survey found 69% of respondents said it’s a priority to create online versions of face-to-face classes.

A slightly lower share, 65%, said the same about launching virtual versions of entire in-person degree programs.

This result suggests launching online programs may be a growing priority. In last year’s CHLOE survey, 42% of chief online learning officers said they were focusing on creating virtual versions of popular in-person programs.

The vast majority of respondents, 92%, said online offerings allow them to recruit students within their institutions’ regions, while 87% said it enables them to reach students outside of their traditional borders.

Almost half of respondents, 46%, said online enrollment at their colleges is outpacing growth in on-campus programs.

The survey asked respondents to forecast their top three online student markets for the future. More than three-quarters of respondents, 78%, listed adult undergraduates pursuing college degrees.

Adult students are typically considered those ages 25 and older. Colleges have been ramping up their efforts to recruit this population to prepare for the demographic cliff — a sharp decline in the number of high school graduates expected to start around 2025 due to lower birth rates during the Great Recession.

Graduate students pursuing degree programs are another area of focus. Over half of respondents, 53% — including colleges that don’t currently have graduate programs — deemed this group an important future market. Only 23% of respondents said the same of traditional-age students interested in fully online degrees.

The survey was conducted in January and February and drew responses from 324 institutions.

The report also offers insights into online program management companies, or OPMs.

These companies help colleges launch and run online programs, often in exchange for a share of their tuition revenue. However, critics of the sector contend that these deals push OPMs to aggressively recruit students and drive up the price of online education.

Scrutiny over OPMs has mounted after 2U — one of the sector’s most high-profile companies — declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July.

2U has said it doesn’t expect the Chapter 11 process to disrupt its services to colleges and their programs, but student advocates are pushing for policies to protect students in the event an OPM collapses altogether.

In the new survey, 68 chief online learning officers answered questions about their relationships with OPMs.

Some 15% of respondents said they currently work with an OPM, while 9% said they work with at least two OPMs. More than half of respondents, 52%, said they had never worked with one of these companies and don’t plan to. Another 15% said they previously worked with one or more OPMs and are not considering working with one again.

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Jury orders Jefferson University to pay $15M after investigation allegedly ran afoul of Title IX

The plaintiff said he encountered gender bias during the investigation "as a male accused of sexual assault."

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State policymakers must receive a report by May 2024 on which diversity programs and jobs that institutions eliminated.

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Data Science is a rapidly growing area within a number of different sectors and jobs. Meet the growing demand for data science experts with Purdue University’s online Master’s in Data Science.

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Earn an online Master’s in Data Science from Purdue University. Professionals will learn from a wide range of topics from computer programming, data mining, machine learning, natural language processing, data engineering, statistics, and regression.

Course Topics:

Core Courses : The Master of Science in Data Science degree is underpinned by a set of core classes designed to give all learners a broad understanding of foundational topic areas, such as:
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COMMENTS

45 Survey Questions to Understand Student Engagement in Online Learning
Research suggests that some groups of students experience more difficulty with academic performance and engagement when course content is delivered online vs. face-to-face. As you look to improve the online learning experience for students, take a moment to understand how students, caregivers, and staff are currently experiencing virtual learning.
PDF A Systematic Review of the Research Topics in Online Learning During
Table 1 summarizes the 12 topics in online learning research in the current research and compares it to Martin et al.'s (2020) study, as shown in Figure 1. The top research theme in our study was engagement (22.5%), followed by course design and development (12.6%) and course technology (11.0%).
80+Remote Learning Survey Questions for Students ...
In this article, we've put together a list of the 80 best remote learning survey questions you can ask students, parents, and teachers to optimize and design effective learning experiences. Here's everything we'll cover: 47 Remote Learning Survey Questions for Students. 27 Remote Learning Survey Questions for Parents.
A Systematic Review of the Research Topics in Online Learning During
The systematic review results indicated that the themes regarding "courses and instructors" became popular during the pandemic, whereas most online learning research has focused on "learners" pre-COVID-19. Notably, the research topics "course and instructors" and "course technology" received more attention than prior to COVID-19.
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The CoI model has formed the basis for a good deal of research on online learning. Most of this research. has focused on one of the three pr esences, social presence being the most frequently ...
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This review enabled us to identify the online learning research themes examined from 2009 to 2018. In the section below, we review the most studied research themes, engagement and learner characteristics along with implications, limitations, and directions for future research. 5.1. Most studied research themes.
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Using students' responses from survey questions and the difference in the average grades between pre‐lockdown and post‐lockdown, our findings indicate that students' performance in the online setting was positively associated with better internet access. ... Journal of Interactive Learning Research, 11 (1), 29-49. [Google Scholar ...
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Distance education lacks proximity with teachers and has its own set of unique challenges. Some students may find it difficult to learn a subject and take more time to understand. This question measures the extent to which students find their teachers helpful. You can also use a ready-made survey template to save time.
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This systematic analysis examines effectiveness research on online and blended learning from schools, particularly relevant during the Covid-19 pandemic, and also educational games, computer-supported cooperative learning (CSCL) and computer-assisted instruction (CAI), largely used in schools but with potential for outside school.
Key findings about online learning and the ...
America's K-12 students are returning to classrooms this fall after 18 months of virtual learning at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some students who lacked the home internet connectivity needed to finish schoolwork during this time - an experience often called the "homework gap" - may continue to feel the effects this school year. Here is what Pew Research Center surveys found ...
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The online learning experimental questions were attached to the end of the NSSE online survey and sent to students at 45 U.S. baccalaureate degree-granting institutions. The 45
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The answer is an emphatic "no." Most online programs appear on your transcript the same as on-campus programs would. You may also wonder if an online program will impact your plans for a higher degree later. As long as your degree is from an accredited institution, it won't harm your chances of acceptance. 4.
A Survey on the Effectiveness of Online Teaching-Learning Methods for
Online teaching-learning methods have been followed by world-class universities for more than a decade to cater to the needs of students who stay far away from universities/colleges. But during the COVID-19 pandemic period, online teaching-learning helped almost all universities, colleges, and affiliated students. An attempt is made to find the effectiveness of online teaching-learning ...
Online learning during COVID-19 produced equivalent or better student
Research across disciplines has demonstrated that well-designed online learning can lead to students' enhanced motivation, satisfaction, and learning [1,2,3,4,5,6,7].]. A report by the U.S. Department of Education [], based on examinations of comparative studies of online and face-to-face versions of the same course from 1996 to 2008, concluded that online learning could produce learning ...
PDF Students' Perceptions towards the Quality of Online Education: A
online education courses can be found in a survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, which revealed that more than 54,000 online education courses were be ing offered in 1998, with over 1.6 million student's enrolled (cited in Lewis, et al., 1999). In a more recent study, Allen and Seaman (2003) reported that: (a) over 1.6 million
Education & Learning Online
Nearly one-in-five teens can't always finish their homework because of the digital divide. Some 15% of U.S. households with school-age children do not have a high-speed internet connection at home. Some teens are more likely to face digital hurdles when trying to complete their homework. reportSep 20, 2016.
170+ Research Topics In Education (+ Free Webinar)
To develop a suitable education-related research topic, you'll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap, and a viable plan of action to fill that gap. If this sounds foreign to you, check out our free research topic webinar that explores how to find and refine a high-quality research topic, from scratch.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Education
Recent reports detail just how quickly colleges adopted online learning. According to the Babson Survey Research Group, university and student participation in online education is at an all-time high. Even some of the largest and most prestigious universities now offer online degrees. Despite its growing popularity, online education is still ...
Helping online students self-direct their college education
New research suggests that short skill-building activities can motivate self-regulated learning among learners taking courses remotely. The availability of online courses has jumped since the COVID-19 pandemic forced remote instruction. In fall 2022, 30 percent of undergraduate students were enrolled in distance education classes exclusively and 60 percent were in at least one distance ...
Students' online learning challenges during the pandemic and how they
To address the research questions, we used both quantitative and qualitative analyses. For the quantitative analysis, we entered all the data into an excel spreadsheet. ... Clark T. Research and practice in K-12 online learning: A review of open access literature. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning. 2009; 10 ...
Top trends, takeaways point to online learning's staying power
The survey of 1,001 online students and 184 college and university administrators presents findings in five categories: the online learning experience, marketing online programs and recruiting online students, online student satisfaction, AI in online education, and planning for the future. Key findings include: The online learning experience
Two-thirds of colleges are prioritizing online versions of on-campus
However, 48% of chief online learning officers still said their priorities included launching new online programs with no campus equivalent. Dive Insight: The ninth Changing Landscape of Online Education report — from Eduventures Research, Quality Matters and Educause — offers a look at how colleges are approaching online education.
Interactivity and identity impact learners' sense of agency in virtual
Most research on learning with VR has been conducted in lab-based experiments measuring its impact in response to a brief experience, raising questions about whether its effects are due to technology's novelty (Hamilton et al., 2021; Wu et al., 2020). Some hypothesize that VR's novelty primarily drives engagement and motivation, increasing ...
Master of Science in Data Science
Delivered through an online and flexible modality, select from different courses and pathways tailored towards your specific interest. Course topics include programming, data analysis, data engineering, statistics, machine learning, natural language processing, and more.
National Fire Academy (NFA) Online self-study courses
National Fire Academy (NFA) Online self-study courses are free to fire and emergency services personnel, and international students are welcome. Continuing Education Units are available for most courses. Successful completion is added to your NFA transcript, and you earn an NFA certificate.
CYPHER Learning Review 2024: Pricing, Features, Pros ...
Best 5 Alternatives to CYPHER Learning; Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) What is CYPHER Learning? CYPHER Learning is an AI-driven platform that empowers educators, trainers, HR professionals, and L&D specialists to deliver more personalized and efficient learning experiences. The platform integrates the Learning Management System (LMS ...

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A Survey on the Effectiveness of Online Teaching–Learning Methods for University and College Students

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Online Teaching and Learning Tools

Online Teaching Tools

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A Survey on Innovative Practices in Teaching and Learning

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Online learning during COVID-19 produced equivalent or better student course performance as compared with pre-pandemic: empirical evidence from a school-wide comparative study

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