LU study reveals over 60% of Hong Kong university students have found online learning not as effective as face-to-face teaching during COVID-19 pandemic

Only 27 per cent of university students in Hong Kong were satisfied with their online learning during the COVID-19 outbreak, and 60 per cent found online learning less beneficial than classroom teaching, a recent survey by the School of Graduate Studies of Lingnan University (LU) reveals.

 

Students experienced in using online learning platforms were 7 per cent more satisfied than inexperienced students.

 

Regarding factors that affect the effectiveness of online learning, nearly 60 per cent of respondents were concerned about the “stability of internet connection”, about half said they were affected by no “in-class interaction” and 45 per cent by the lack of “after-class communication and engagement with instructors”.

 

The study also notes that over 85 per cent of respondents hope to resume face-to-face teaching supplemented by online learning after the pandemic.

 

Prof Joshua Mok Ka-ho, Vice-President of LU who led the study, said the survey finds traditional classroom learning cannot be replaced at present. And, since students’ familiarity with how online learning platforms operate has a considerable impact on their learning satisfaction, he suggested higher education institutions should improve their online learning skills and IT literacy. He added that the HKSAR Government should support systematic research in online learning by universities to find out the best practice in the long run; for example, how to maximise the effectiveness of online learning, and make the most of it to supplement face-to-face teaching, as well as exploring the feasibility of inter-university online learning.

 

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Online learning   

From left: Prof Joshua Mok Ka-ho, Prof Jiang Jin, Ke Guoguo and Dr Xiong Weiyan.