The emergence of Covid-19 in 2020 has changed the world in many different ways, including the education sector. It has forced many universities to migrate to online platforms in order to continue with their teaching and learning process. Many studies have been conducted on Covid-19’s impact at university level, concentrating on existing students only. Therefore, this study focuses on new university students as they embark on this important phase of their lives. This quantitative study examines new students’ readiness to learn online, the challenges they face and their recommendations to improve their learning experience. Questionnaires collected from 600 new diploma students at a Malaysian university were analyzed using SPSS 23. Findings showed that the majority was ready and has the necessary equipment like computers or phones and internet for online classes. The main challenges seemed to be their tendency to keep quiet during class, difficulty in understanding online lectures due to internet problems and explaining to the lecturers about lessons that they did not understand.. Students recommended changes in teaching techniques, providing better materials and using the same platform to improve online classes. After 14 weeks of studying online, these new students also indicated that they would prefer blended or hybrid learning compared to face-to-face or online classes. It is advised that further research on these issues are conducted to find out whether adjustments have been made by universities towards the end of this pandemic.
Adams, D., Tan, M. H. J., and Sumintono, B. (2021), Students’ readiness for blended learning in a leading Malaysian private higher education institution, Interactive Technology and Smart Education, https://doi-org.ezaccess.library.uitm.edu.my/10.1108/ITSE-03-2020-0032
Adedoyin, O. B., and Soykan, E. (2020). Covid-19 Pandemic and Online Learning: the challenges and opportunities. Interactive Learning Environments, 1-13.
Aguilera-Hermida, P. (2020) College Students’ Use and Acceptance of Emergency Online Learning due to Covid-19. International Jounal of Educational Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2020.100011
Aristovnik, A., Kerzic, D., Ravselj, D., Tomazevic, N., & Umek, L. (2020) Impacts of the Covid-10 Pandemic on Life of Higher Education Students: A Global Perspective. Sustanaibility, 12, 1-34.
Chong, Y., and Soo, H. S. (2021) Evaluation of First-Year University Students’ Engagement to Enhance Student Development. Asian Journal of University Education , 17(2), 113-121.
Chung, E., Subramaniam, G., & Dass, L. C. (2020). Online Learning Readiness among University Students in Malaysia amidst Covid-19. Asian Higher Journal of Education, 16(2), 46-58.
Fazackerley, A. (2020) Forget Freshers' Week: universities prepare to teach new first years online. The Guardian.https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/apr/03/forget-freshers-week-universities-prepare-to-teach-new-first-years-online
Ferlazzo, L. (2020) What Students Are Really Thinking About Online Learning. Eduweek. (https://www.edweek.org/technology/opinion-what-students-are-really-thinking-about-online-learning/2020/05
Friedman, J. (2020). Tackle Challenges of Online Classes Due to COVID-19
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/how-to-overcome-challenges-of-online-classes-due-to-coronavirus
Hall, R., and Batty, D. (2020) 'I can't get motivated': the students struggling with online learning. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/may/04/i-cant-get-motivated-the-students-struggling-with-online-learning hall & batty 2020
Hassan, H. (2021) Malaysia's digital divide makes some students trek up hills and sleep on trees for Internet access. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysias-digital-divide-makes-some-students-trek-up-hills-and-sleep-on-trees-for
Kamaruzaman, F. M., Sulaiman, N. A., & Shaid, N. A. N. (2021). A Study on Perception of Students’ Readiness towards Online Learning During Covid-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 11(7), 1536–1548.
Lim, I. (2020) Reality for Malaysia’s university students: Online learning challenges, stress, workload; possible solutions for fully digital future until Dec. The Malay Mail https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/05/30/reality-for-malaysias-university-students-online-learning-challenges-stress/1870717
Lischer, S., Safi, M., & Dickson, C. (2021). Remote Learning and Students’ Mental Health during the Covid-19 Pandemic: A mixed-method inquiry. Prospects. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11125-020-09530-w
Maila, H. R. (2021) Indonesian University Students’ Likes and Dislikes about Emergency Remote Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic . Asian Higher Journal of Education, 17, 1-18.
Mathew, V. L., and Chung, E. (2021) University Students’ Perspectives on Open and Distance Learning (ODL) Implementation Amidst COVID-19. Asian Higher Journal of Education, 17, 52-60
Almaiah, M. A., Al-Khawaseh, A., & Althunibat, A (2020) Exploring the critical challenges and factors influencing the E-learning system usage during Covid-19 pandemic. Education and Information Technologies, 25, 5261-5280.
Moorhouse, B. L. (2020) Adaptations to a Face-to-face Initial Teacher Education Course ‘Forced’ Online due to Covid-19 Pandemic. Journal of Education for Teaching, 46(4), 609-611.
Adnan, M., & Anwar, K. (2020). Online Learning amid the Covid-19 Pandemic:Students’ perpectives. Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology, 2, 45-51.
Muthuprasad, T., Aiswarya, T., Aditya, K. S., & Girish, K. J. (2021) Students’ Perception and Preference for Online Education in India during Covid-19 Pandemic. Social Science and Humanities, 3(1) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2020.100101
Newman-Bremang, K. (2020) It Feels Second-Rate.” The Class of 2024 On Starting University This Fall. https://www.refinery29.com/en-ca/2020/09/9947380/college-university-students-canada-pandemic
Northeastern University. (2020). Tips for taking online classes: eight strategies for success. Retrieved from https://www.northeastern.edu/graduate/blog/tips-for-taking-online-classes/
Nowell, L. S., Norris, J. M., White, D. E., & Moules, N. J. (2017) Thematic Analysis: Striving to Meet the Trustworthiness Criteria. International Jounal of Qualitative Methods, 16, 1-13.
Omar, N. H., Thomas, B., Jusoh, M. Z., & Jalil, S. Z. (2021). Students’ Perception and Preference for Online Learning in Sabah During Covid-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 11(11), 270 – 292.
Sia, J.K.-M., and Adamu, A. (2020), "Facing the unknown: pandemic and higher education in Malaysia", Asian Education and Development Studies, 2, 263-275
Sim, S. P., Sim, H. P., & Quah, C. (2020) Online Learning: A post Covid-19 Alternative pedagogy For University Students. Asian Higher Journal of Education, 16(4), 137-151.
In-Text Citation: (Ghazali, 2022)
To Cite this Article: Ghazali, S. N. (2022). New University Students and Online Learning: Readiness, Challenges and Recommendations. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences. 12(7), 1472– 1484.
Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s)
Published by Knowledge Words Publications (www.kwpublications.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
