AUTHOR=Xia Yuefan , Hu Yawen , Wu Chenyi , Yang Ling , Lei Man 

TITLE=Challenges of online learning amid the COVID-19: College students’ perspective

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1037311

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1037311

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=Universities in China’s transition to online education in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has spawned several research studies. However, studies exploring college students’ technological skills, relationships with their peers and instructors and collaborative learning experiences during the pandemic are scarce. Three aspects were explored in this mixed study: (1) changes in students’ engagement in class and the main factors involved; (2) efficiency in completing group assignments; and (3) how students related to their peers and instructors. Data were collected through a qualitative survey supplemented by quantitative data about students’ attitudes to online learning using the SAROL scale. This paper argues that online learning may not produce the desired results due to lack of interaction with instructors, no campus socialization or well-trained technology skills and appropriate content for online courses and group work. The findings further revealed that online learning offers college students new ways to learn independently, collaborate and build relationships with their peers and encourages them to reconsider how to improve their technology skills, learning methods, communication skills and review their responsibilities as team members.