Learners and their learning environment in Swedish higher education: Challenges in computer-mediated learning during COVID-19

Abstract

This paper aims at investigating the issues and challenges experienced by remote learning among students of higher education in the Swedish context, during COVID-19. The pandemic influenced the emergence of a new learning context, and the effectiveness of the computer-mediated remote learning from the sudden transition of traditional approaches caused many interesting issues. The empirical part of the study was based on a web-based survey conducted in the middle of 2020, during the pandemic, among 1,767 anonymous students who studied at 30 higher educational institutions in Sweden. The results are presented in line with Zimmerman's (2000) triadic (personal, environmental and behavioral) forms of self-regulation. The survey indicated that the perceived worries students experienced were oriented towards the students' own personal situations and future possibilities, rather than the general state and welfare of global society. The fast transition to online classes and seminars led to many students being worried about their abilities to maintain efficiency in their studies. The findings of this study could provide refined insights on the issues that should be in mind when formulating strategies for effective remote learning in such a changing environment during a crisis period, not only in Sweden but also in some international contexts. © 2023 Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0