Remote Learning During The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Preliminary Study of Digital Literacy Competencies Amongst Students in Higher Education
Abstract
Higher education institutions use a blended learning approach that combines face-to-face and online learning to improve students' learning. There was a rapid shift to remote learning due to the suspension of face-to-face learning activities due to the spread of COVID-19 in Malaysia. As a result, students must be digitally literate to improve their remote learning sessions. On the other hand, some students are less aware of the importance of digital literacy. Thus, a preliminary study was conducted to determine undergraduate students' digital literacy competencies. A survey was completed by 66 students enrolled in two academic courses. An online questionnaire was distributed during the 2020/2021 academic session. According to the findings, the majority of students live in rural areas and participate in remote learning sessions using mobile hotspot connections in addition to fibre broadband. The students demonstrated adequate digital literacy competencies throughout the remote learning sessions based on preliminary findings. Students are encouraged to upskill to improve their knowledge of the most recent digital technologies, allowing them to use the most recent digital technologies in their learning and future workplace.
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Almazova, N., Krylova, E., Rubtsova, A., & Odinokaya, M. (2020). Challenges and opportunities for Russian higher education amid COVID-19: Teachers' perspective. Education Sciences, 10(12), 368.
Almusharraf, N., & Khahro, S. (2020). Students satisfaction with online learning experiences during the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (IJET), 15(21), 246-267.
Araújo-Vila, N., Cardoso, L., Toubes, D. R., & Fraiz-Brea, J. A. (2020). Digital Competence in Spanish University Education and Its Use by Students. Publications, 8(4), 47.
Dewi, C. A., & Purmadi, A. (2021). The Urgency of Digital Literacy for Generation Z Students in Chemistry Learning. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning, 16(11).
Janssen, J., Stoyanov, S., Ferrari, A., Punie, Y., Pannekeet, K., & Sloep, P. (2013). Experts' views on digital competence: Commonalities and differences. Computers & Education, 68, 473-481.
Kaeophanuek, S., Na-Songkhla, J., & Nilsook, P. (2019). A learning process model to enhance digital literacy using critical inquiry through digital storytelling (CIDST). International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning, 14(3).
Karatas, K., & Arpaci, I. (2021). The role of self-directed learning, metacognition, and 21st century skills predicting the readiness for online learning. Contemporary Educational Technology, 13(3), ep300.
Katsarou, E. (2021). The Effects of Computer Anxiety and Self-Efficacy on L2 Learners' Self-Perceived Digital Competence and Satisfaction in Higher Education. Journal of Education and e-Learning Research, 8(2), 158-172.
Komlayut, S., & Srivatanakul, T. (2017). Assessing digital literacy skills using a self-administered questionnaire. Review of Integrative Business and Economics Research, 6(3), 74.
Lamanauskas, V., & Makarskaitė-Petkevičienė, R. (2021). Distance Lectures in University Studies: Advantages, Disadvantages, Improvement. Contemporary educational technology, 13(3), 1-16.
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission. (2020). MCMC Internet Users Survey 2020, Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission Report, ISSN 1823-2523, [Online] Available at: https://bit.ly/3GFeTkZ. [Accessed: Oct. 10, 2021].
Maphosa, C., & Bhebhe, S. (2019). Digital literacy: A must for open distance and e-learning (ODEL) students. European Journal of Education Studies.
Martzoukou, K. (2020). Academic libraries in COVID-19: a renewed mission for digital literacy. Library management, 42(4/5), 266-276.
Moliner, L., Lorenzo-Valentin, G., & Alegre, F. (2021). E-Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain: A Case Study with High School Mathematics Students. Journal of Education and e-Learning Research, 8(2), 179-184.
Nisha, N. B., & Varghese, R. R. (2021). Literature on Information Literacy: A Review. DESIDOC Journal of Library & Information Technology, 41(4).
Ozdamar-Keskin, N., Ozata, F. Z., Banar, K., & Royle, K. (2015). Examining digital literacy competences and learning habits of open and distance learners. Contemporary Educational Technology, 6(1), 74-90.
Reddy, P., Sharma, B. N., & Chaudhary, K. C. (2020, June). Measuring the digital competency of freshmen at a higher education institute. In Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems Proceedings. Association for Information Systems.
Sa, M. J., & Serpa, S. (2020). COVID-19 and the Promotion of Digital Competences in Education. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 8(10), 4520-4528.
Sharda, P., & Bajpai, M. K. (2021). Online Learning and Teaching using Google Classroom during the COVID-19 Pandemic. DESIDOC Journal of Library & Information Technology, 41(5).
Tejedor, S., Cervi, L., Pérez-Escoda, A., & Jumbo, F. T. (2020). Digital literacy and higher education during COVID-19 lockdown: Spain, Italy, and Ecuador. Publications, 8(4), 48.
Tomczyk, Ł., Potyrała, K., Włoch, A., Wnęk-Gozdek, J., & Demeshkant, N. (2020). Evaluation of the Functionality of a New E-Learning Platform vs. Previous Experiences in E-Learning and the Self-Assessment of Own Digital Literacy. Sustainability, 12(23), 10219.
Yaseen, H., Alsoud, A. R., Nofal, M., Abdeljaber, O., & Al-Adwan, A. S. (2021). The Effects of Online Learning on Students' Performance: A Comparison between UK and Jordanian Universities. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning, 16(20).
Yustika, G. P., & Iswati, S. (2020). Digital Literacy in Formal Online Education: A Short Review. Dinamika Pendidikan, 15(1), 66-76.
Zulkarnain, Z., Heleni, S., & Thahir, M. (2020, October). Digital literacy skills of math students through e-learning in COVID-19 era: a case study in Universitas Riau. In Journal of Physics: Conference Series (Vol. 1663, No. 1, p. 012015). IOP Publishing.
Published
2022-04-01
How to Cite
MOHD NADZIR, Maslinda.
Remote Learning During The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Preliminary Study of Digital Literacy Competencies Amongst Students in Higher Education.
Asian Journal of Research in Education and Social Sciences, [S.l.], v. 4, n. 1, p. 226-233, apr. 2022.
Available at: <https://myjms.mohe.gov.my/index.php/ajress/article/view/17855>. Date accessed: 13 oct. 2024.
Section
Articles
