SOUTH KOREAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ VIEWS OF ONLINE LEARNING DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Year 2022, Volume: 23 Issue: 4, 39 - 52, 01.10.2022

Andrea Rakushin Lee Daniel Baıley Norah Almusharraf

https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.1182753

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has created many formidable challenges for educational institutions around the world. This case study sought to gain insight into South Korean university students’ satisfaction with online learning during the pandemic. It also obtained participant recommendations for improving online learning. Participants included 20 South Korean students studying at a university in central South Korea. Data included open-ended surveys, a focus group, and semi-structured interviews. Most students had mixed feelings in regard to satisfaction with online classes. A salient result is a need for more interaction in online classes. Students also provided a wide range of recommendations to improve online learning. Through these recommendations, university educators and administrators can better optimize online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and after the crisis has dissipated.

Keywords

COVID-19, South Korean universities, student satisfaction, benefits of online learning, disadvantages of online learning

References

• Appleton-Knapp, S. & Krentler, K. (2006). Measuring student expectations and their effects on satisfaction: The importance of managing student expectations. Journal of Marketing Education, 28(3), 254-264. https://doi.org/10.1177/0273475306293359
• Archibald, M. M., Ambagtsheer, R. C., Casey, M. G., & Lawless, M. (2019). Using Zoom videoconferencing for qualitative data collection: Perceptions and experiences of researchers and participants. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 18, 1-8. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1609406919874596
• Aristovnik, A., Kerzic, D., Ravselj, D., Tomazevic, N., & Umek, L. (2020). Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on life of higher education students: A global perspective. Retrieved from http://www.covidsoclab.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Aristovnik-et-al.-2020-COVID-19-and-Higher-Education-Students-Version-2.pdf
• Babar, H. (2020). Determinants of students’ perceived learning outcome and satisfaction in online learning during the pandemic of COVID-19. Journal of Education and e-Learning Research, 7(3), 285-292. doi: 10.20448/journal.509.2020.73.285.292
• Bahk, E.-J. (2 April 2020a). Back to school with online classes- will it work? The Korea Times. Retrieved from https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2020/04/181_287252.html