Undergraduates’ Perception of the Online Learning Process during the Coronavirus Disease-2019 Outbreak in Pekanbaru, Indonesia

Abstract

The outbreak of coronavirus disease-2019 has enforced the Indonesian government through its Ministry of Education and Culture to release policies shifting conventional classrooms to online classrooms. In line with that, this study is aimed to reveal the undergraduates’ perception of the online learning process during the outbreak of COVID-19. Quantitative research was employed using a survey distributed to 221 students from private universities in Riau, Indonesia. The online questionnaire was used to obtain the data. The data gathered were analysed using SPSS. The research findings have indicated that online learning was effective due to the accessibility to online learning content easier and the opportunity to stay at home, even though the technical problems and less interaction became the drawbacks of online learning. The research findings also revealed that most of the students preferred online learning to face-to-face learning, followed by half of the students satisfied with online learning. The quantitative findings of this study have recommended that the implementation of online learning into the semester learning plan requires a more varied approach to avoid learning obstacles and ensure the effectiveness of learning.