by Reehab, Huatong, and Jitlada
Learning remotely has both pros and cons. When it was all online, students attended classes comfortably from the convenience of their own homes. It made the students worry less about studying, completing course assessments and passing their courses. Online learning lasted for three years, so students learning online for a long period may need help adjusting to the traditional in-person learning environment. Busted (2019) argues that online courses offer students greater control over their own learning by enabling them to work at their own pace.
Additionally, students studying online may have developed certain habits that need to be better for in-person learning. So, when onsite learning commences, students find it challenging. Therefore, a survey was developed to obtain opinions and feedback regarding onsite learning for first-year students and Stamford seniors who spent most of their studies online. The survey gathered responses from 83 students and could help current and future students of Stamford International University to cope with the challenges of studying in the new normal.
Research questions
- How did the online modality affect your learning?
- Are the students adjusting and coping well with learning onsite?
- What are the students’ difficulties learning onsite?
- What are the students’ ways of adapting to the new normal?
Method
The method used to collect data was a survey questionnaire of 13 questions. It aims to find out students’ opinions about learning onsite again after three years of remote learning and their recommendations to overcome their stress if any. The data were collected from 83 students, 54% were females, and 42% were males. Most were Asians, with 79%, and 21% were African, Middle Eastern, and Caucasian. 57% were between 21-25, 28% were between 16-20, and 15% were between 26-30 and above. 83% are single, and only 13% are married. 91% of them live in Bangkok.
Findings
- How did the online modality affect your learning?
Online learning for three years has greatly impacted students’ learning on-site; the students were lacking social interaction and support from teachers and classmates, and the frustration with technical difficulties and equipment problems, distractions, and delays in the learning process. Hence, 36% of the students answered that they were affected. And 32% of students were affected to some extent. While 31% of students were not affected by the impact of learning remotely.
2. Are the students adjusting and coping well with learning onsite?
Although 36% of students were affected by learning online, and 32% were affected to some extent, students seem to adapt very well to learning on-site, as 75% have a good experience with it.
3. If studying is stressful for you, which aspect do you find stressful?
34% of the respondents claimed that schoolwork is the main reason the students are stressed studying onsite. This is understandable since they are used to doing their homework/exams online; switching their learning to be onsite will take time to overcome it. Studying from home affected as many as 11% of the respondents who faced problems with transportation, while 10% did not find the university location suitable for them. Moreover, staying home for almost three years affected their social skills, as 10% voted for socializing as a challenge. Lastly, Studying online prevented many from practising their English, so they returned to campus with rusty English skills; 10% voted for English and the language barrier.
4. If studying is stressful, could you suggest any method to adapt to the new experiences?
Out of 83 respondents, 50 responded to this question. 42% of the respondents suggested taking their time and taking it easy. A few of them said, “Don’t rush everything, just take time”, and “Try finding something great to relax and decrease stress”.14% of them mentioned that socializing and making new friends help them to adapt to the new situation. Some suggestions include “talking to friends whom you can trust and have a deep conversation with more often can give you support”. Also, “make new friends and try to enjoy university life as much as possible”. Lastly, 3% of the respondents suggested believing in oneself and staying strong. One said, “believe that you could do anything if you ever put your mind to”.
Studying online and coming back onsite after three years was like switching from complete comfort to sudden exposure to challenges and obstacles. Students expressed their thoughts about their experiences and worries, and despite the challenges, students seemed to enjoy and adapt very well to learning onsite. The students mentioned a few stressful factors, such as school workloads, transportation options, English, and the language barrier. To overcome the stress of learning on-campus, students have expressed strategies that might help, like making friends and reaching out to someone, believing in themselves and their abilities, and taking it easy without pushing themselves to their limits.
References
Busteed, B. . (2019). Online Education From Good To Better To the Best. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/brandonbusteed/2019/03/05/online-education-from-good-to-better-to-best/?sh=d7ead5669124
Literati 