Overcoming challenges to make e-learning a panacea for present and future crises
International Journal of Information and Learning Technology
ISSN: 2056-4880
Article publication date: 16 May 2022
Issue publication date: 21 June 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This study identified salient challenges related to future preference for e-learning of undergraduates during closure of institutions of higher learning due to the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and put forth suggestions to overcome challenges of e-learning for present and future crises.
Design/methodology/approach
Undergraduates were drawn from two universities in Malaysia who normally attend conventional classroom learning. Underpinned by the literature, the challenges and future preference for e-learning were operationalised into statements. Data were collected via a self-administered questionnaire hosted on Google Forms and were analysed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and STATA statistical software.
Findings
The hierarchical multiple linear regression results showed that the salient challenges related to undergraduates' future preference for e-learning, in descending order, were learning outcomes, followed by disadvantages (negatively) and discipline. Moreover, there were nuanced gender differences on the relative importance of salient challenges related to future preference for e-learning.
Research limitations/implications
Because the literature on e-learning during the closure of institutions of learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic is evolving, some salient challenges may not be captured in this study. Next, this survey was carried out in July 2020 when all courses were conducted using one hundred per cent e-learning for the first time. Hence, future replication studies may produce different results. Lastly, findings are not generalisable to other contexts as the salient challenges may be unique to the Malaysian context.
Practical implications
Concerted efforts by all stakeholders to address these salient challenges will shift e-learning in higher education closer to a panacea during present and future crises.
Originality/value
The sudden and involuntary switch from face-to-face learning to e-learning during the closure of institutions of higher learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic provided opportunity to research the salient challenges encountered by undergraduates and to overcome these salient challenges.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding: This work was supported by the Xiamen University Malaysia Research Fund. Grant number: XMUMRF/2019-C4/ISEM/0022. The funding body has no role in the design of the study, collection, analysis, interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript.
Citation
Looi, K.H. (2022), "Overcoming challenges to make e-learning a panacea for present and future crises", International Journal of Information and Learning Technology, Vol. 39 No. 3, pp. 227-239. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJILT-10-2021-0157
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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