Secondary School Students' Perceptions and Challenges Toward Online Learning During the Covid-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia

The main objective of this research is to examine secondary school students' perceptions and challenges toward online learning during the Covid-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. Through the analysis of suggestions by students, the study sought to extract solutions for improving the learning and teaching experience in the event that the pandemic continues. This process allows for the researcher to identify weaknesses of online learning and thus forge credible solutions. SPSS will be used to examine the data and analyze the findings. Given that the quantitative research method was favored as part of the design, the data was collected using a questionnaire which provided all the information needed to carry out descriptive statistical analysis. The aforementioned tool was distributed to a study sample of (763) male and female secondary school students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The findings highlight students’ perceptions amid the pandemic, and these include a myriad of privileges which are unique to online learning such as flexibility and convenience, the acquirement and mastery of technological skills, as well as greater participation from all types of students, including those who shy away from face-to-face interactions. By contrast, the results also exposed some prominent challenges including feelings of isolation, stress, and ubiquitous forms of distractions. The study recommends that future studies explore the topic of gender and how it affects the outcomes of online learning.