University College Students’ Experiences with Online Teaching One Year after COVID-19 Lockdown in Spring 2020

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore university college students’ experiences with online teaching one year after the lockdown in spring 2021.With quantitative cluster analysis, we have identified a “learning gradient” among students, showing that cluster 1 students have the most positive preferences towards online teaching and the highest degree of self-regulation and learning outcome, cluster 2 students are mixed (both positive and negative experiences), and cluster 3 students have the most negative preferences and the lowest self-regulation and learning outcome. In this study, we used 5 focus group interviews with 29 students based on their preferences towards online teaching to discuss and reflect on their own study planning, the shift in the learning environment, their perceived learning outcome, and positive and negative experiences from online teaching. The results from this study have shown that students’ self-regulated learning strategies during online teaching environment are important for their learning outcome. Thus, we demonstrate the disjunction between students’ learning outcome and the classroom as a fixed place for learning.

Keywords

• online teaching
• learning approaches
• self-regulation
• learning gradient
• COVID-19 lockdown