ABSTRACT
Background and Purpose: Online learning has become a new norm to higher education institutions in the developing countries since COVID-19 pandemic. An overnight shift from conventional physical learning to online learning in this pandemic moment has posed a major challenge to most of the educational institutions. Student's readiness and satisfaction towards online learning activities are important to ensure the effectiveness of this new learning method. Therefore, this study aims to examine the online learning readiness and satisfaction among the university students from four Asian countries during COVID-19 pandemic. The domains of the examinations included student learning preference, self-direction, self-efficacy, and hardware-soft skill support. Methodology: This survey research employed a quantitative approach to gather data. The sample respondents were 1,195 university students from Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and China, selected using a simple random sampling method. Online questionnaires were distributed to the respondents, comprising 37 items including demographic profiles, satisfaction, and online learning readiness assessment. The survey responses were analysed descriptively and inferentially using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. Findings: Results showed that 74.7% of the participants had a middle level of online learning readiness, and only 20.1% had high online learning readiness. The levels of online learning readiness varied among the participating countries. The participants lacked online learning preference, as shown in the lower mean scores compared to the means of self-direction, self-efficacy, and hardware-soft skill supports. For satisfaction, students reflected that online course required improvement, as observed in only 31% satisfaction with the online learning courses provided. The results also revealed that there was a significant positive correlation (r=.383) between online learning readiness and students' satisfaction. Contributions: This study provides preliminary insights into the preparedness of online learning in higher educational institutions in the Asian countries. It implies a potential disruptive impact on the educational system during the pandemic. Such perspectives are crucial for educators to understand students' readiness and perceptions as a means of providing more effective online courses.
ABSTRACT
The global COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the health of individuals and leading to psychological problems. Students in higher education who are graduating, facing online learning challenges, and future job opportunities are among the most at-risk group for psychological issues. Due to the new normal of the COVID-19 pandemic, limited studies have been conducted concerning the mental health of students, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. Therefore, this study aimed to assess student's depression, anxiety, and stress status in four countries in the Asia Pacific region, namely, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and China. This study employed a quantitative research design with a pool of 1,195 student participants. The DASS-21 questionnaire was used for data collection through an online platform to measure the severity of depression, anxiety, and stress. Descriptive statistics were conducted to achieve the research objectives, and all reliability values were reported greater than 0.70. Findings revealed that up to 38% of the students reported mild or moderate depression, anxiety, and stress, while 20.5% reported severe or extremely severe anxiety. Overall, anxiety was reported to be the most significant problem among the students, followed by depression and stress. Students are at risk of mental health challenges during the coronavirus pandemic, likely due to unexpected life changes. This study contributes an overview report of students' mental health problems and discusses the support and services in preventing students' psychological problems. The comprehensive discussion has provided scientific information and suggestion to policymakers in maintaining the student academic and welfare.