Readiness and Challenges of E-Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic Era: A Space Analysis in Peninsular Malaysia

Adi Jafar; Ramli Dollah; Prabhat Mittal; Asmady Idris; Jong Eop Kim; Mohd Syariefudin Abdullah; Eko Prayitno Joko; Dayangku Norasyikin Awang Tejuddin; Nordin Sakke; Noor Syakirah Zakaria; Mohammad Tahir Mapa; Chong Vun Hung

doi:10.3390/ijerph20020905

Readiness and Challenges of E-Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic Era: A Space Analysis in Peninsular Malaysia

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Jan 4;20(2):905. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20020905.

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia.
² Department of Commerce & Management, Satyawati College (Eve), University of Delhi, New Delhi 110052, India.
³ Department of Copy Right Protection, Sangmyung University, 20, Hongimun 2-gil, Jongro-gu, Seoul 03016, Republic of Korea.
⁴ Faculty of Human Sciences, Sultan Idris Education University, Tanjong Malim 35900, Perak, Malaysia.
⁵ Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan 94300, Sarawak, Malaysia.

Abstract

During the COVID-19 era, most countries, including Malaysia, have shifted from face-to-face teaching systems to online teaching programs. The aim of this study is to identify the main challenges that higher education students face during e-learning based on their residential location throughout Peninsular Malaysia. This study further examines the readiness of higher education students to apply e-learning. Therefore, a cross-sectional survey approach is used to fulfil the outlined objectives. Accordingly, 761 public (95.3%) and private (4.7%) higher education students residing in Peninsular Malaysia are sampled in this study. The survey was administered online for 37 days, from 21 October 21 to 6 December 2021, using either WhatsApp or Facebook. The raw data is inferentially (Principal Component Analysis, K-Means Clustering, Kruskal Wallis, and spatial analysis) and descriptively (mean, standard deviation & percentage) analyzed. It has been revealed that six clusters of students in Peninsular Malaysia face various challenges while following the e-learning program. Most states in Peninsular Malaysia are dominated by students in Cluster D (Terengganu, Perlis, Penang, Selangor, WP Kuala Lumpur, and WP Putrajaya) and Cluster B categories (Melaka, Johor, Kelantan, and Kedah). Students in the Cluster D category tend to suffer from physical health disorders and social isolation, while students in the Cluster B category face problems with decreased focus in learning, mental health disorders, and social isolation. The outcomes further indicate that the more challenges students face during e-learning programs, the lower their willingness to continue with the program. The results of this study are significant in addressing the challenges of e-learning, which will help stakeholders address and strengthen student abilities.

Keywords: Geography Information Systems (GIS); cluster analysis; online education system; online learning; university students.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / epidemiology
Computer-Assisted Instruction*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Humans
Malaysia / epidemiology
Pandemics
Surveys and Questionnaires

Grants and funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. The APC was funded by the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).