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

• Published in: Education and information technologies Vol. 26; no. 6; pp. 7321 - 7338
• Main Authors: Barrot, Jessie S., Llenares, Ian I., del Rosario, Leo S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-11-2021; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Barriers; College Students; Computer Appl. in Social and Behavioral Sciences; Computer Science; Computers and Education; Coping; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Distance learning; Education; Educational Environment; Educational Technology; Electronic Learning; Epidemics; Family Environment; Foreign Countries; Help Seeking; Information Systems Applications (incl.Internet); Learning Experience; Learning strategies; Mental Health; Online education; Pandemics; Philippines; School environment; Student Experience; Students; Technological Literacy; Time Management; User Interfaces and Human Computer Interaction; Philippines; COVID-19; Online learning strategies; Higher education; Online learning; Remote learning
• ISSN: 1360-2357; 1573-7608
• DOI: 10.1007/s10639-021-10589-x

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.