Student experiences of online learning due to Covid-19

Background: Five weeks into the start of a new academic year, the University of Canterbury (UC) in Christchurch, New Zealand experienced a rapid transition from traditional on-campus education to online distance learning. On-campus lectures were replaced by a combination of interactive live-streamed Zoom sessions, pre-recorded classes, compiled videos and laboratory sessions, and other activities. It was unknown how students’ learning was impacted by this sudden change to an online environment. Purpose: Our research sought to explore the main challenges perceived by students in the transition to an online learning environment in order to gain an understanding of how teaching staff can best address student needs in future emergency situations. Methods: A two part survey was electronically distributed to students enrolled in a 4-year engineering programme and a 3-year sport coaching programme at the University of Canterbury. Results: Student responses indicated a clear desire for structured, in-person delivery of tertiary education. The ability to gain rapid feedback from lecturers was missed, as was social interaction and informal learning among peers. The use of timetabled tutorials and small-stakes assessment items helped facilitate regular contact with the course material and interaction among students and between students and teaching staff. Assessment practices which constrained time to respond to questions, although useful in limiting opportunities for cheating, was unpopular with students and was associated with increased anxiety. Students preferred untimed assessments, such as written assignments and take-home tests. In addition, it was found to be important to provide practise opportunities for modified-for-online assessments prior to formal testing to help reduce stress in an already stressful environment.