Based on the two key readings and the listening provided, describe students’

main perceptions about switching to learning online due to the Covid-19 crisis.

Distance learning has become more and more popular across the globe due to the
Coronavirus pandemic. Acquiring knowledge through online learning offers convenience,
flexible schedule, and places to learners. However, virtual classes create many challenges
for students as they need to adapt to the change from in-person instruction to remote
instruction mode. The purpose of this essay is to describe the perceptions of learners in the
shifting process from offline classes to the e-learning platform because of COVID-19.

Learning online provides students with many advantages. Firstly, distance learning allows
students to stay safe due to the COVID-19 regulations of the government. According to
Mailizar, Almanthari, Maulina, and Bruce (2020) that "COVID-19 has had a serious
impact on students, instructors, and educational organizations around the globe". Put
simply, learning online seems to be the most effective solution to avoiding the dangerous
disease. Secondly, not only does online education offer opportunities to study with flexible
times and places but also many lesson materials. Finally, students are given control and
self-governance in the whole study via their smartphones, and laptops. Therefore, online
learning has been helpful in safeguarding peoples' health amid COVID-19 pandemic,
developing independent skills, and providing suitable schedules for learners.

By contrast, virtual learning brings serious challenges for students. Lack of motivation is
the major obstacle when students study via online platforms. From the survey carried out
by Adnan (2020), it seems that students perceive online learning to be less motivating than
traditional learning. In the words of this author, "The majority of the students (71.4%) feel
voted against the notion that online learning is more motivating than conventional
learning". Additionally, whereas communication plays an important role in the learning
process, learning through the internet minimises learners’ face-to-face interaction with
their instructors and peers. Another major problem is technological issues when students
use their device for online learning. As Zhong (2020) mentions technical issues students
encountered were the accessibility to the internet, connectivity to the Wi-Fi, and lack of
appropriate devices. But simply, "Insufficient access and availability of the internet and the
lack of the latest technology". In sum, these studies support the notion that technical
problems and lack of motivation are regarded as barriers to effective online learning.

In conclusion, online learning has been carried out across the globe, which brings
advantages and disadvantages in its implementation. In particular, distance learning offers
effective solutions for people who want to gain knowledge amid dangerous diseases with
flexible times and places while keeping safe. It is possible that many challenges when
learning online such as lack of motivation and technological problems. However,
governments and local education authorities should build the foundation for learning
online, one of which is that invest more than in education to improve these issues.

References

Adnan, M., & Anwar, K. (2020). Online Learning amid the COVID-19 Pandemic:
Students' Perspectives. Online Submission, 2(1), 45-51.

Mailizar, Almanthari, A., Maulina, S., & Bruce, S. (2020). Secondary school mathematics
teachers' views on e-learning implementation barriers during the COVID-19 pandemic:
The case of Indonesia. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science & Technology Education,
1-9.

Zhong, K. (2020). A research on the effect of learner attribution on performance under the
mediation of online learning environment. Journal of Educational Technology
Development and Exchange (JETDE), 13(1), 2.