Internet Connection and Learning Device Availability of College Students: Basis for Institutionalizing Flexible Learning in the New Normal
Keywords:
internet connection, learning devices, college students, flexible learning, new normalAbstract
Due to the effect of the current pandemic that the world is experiencing, the educational system swiftly remedied the problem of student learning. This study assessed the students' internet connection capability and the availability of learning devices at their homes. The researchers used a descriptive cross-sectional research design with the online survey as the primary tool for data gathering. Using a convenience sampling technique, this study garnered 2,894 responses from students at a local higher education institution in Central Luzon, Philippines. The study used a modified questionnaire and subjected the gathered data to simple statistical analysis. Based on the results of the survey, 70% of the students have internet access at home. On the other hand, smartphone tops the list of the learning devices that is available for learning for students. To conclude, the institution can therefore implement a flexible learning plan for the students especially this time of the pandemic period. In addition, the researchers also suggested some important recommendations in the learning system of the institution.
References
Aboagye E., Yawson, J.A., & Appiah, K.N. (2021). COVID-19 and e-learning: the challenges of students in a tertiary institution. Social Education Research, 2(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.37256/ser.212021422
Ahmed, S.S., Khan, E., & Faisal, M. (2017). The potential and challenges of MOOCs in Pakistan: A perspective of students and faculty. Asian Association of Open Universities Journal, 12(1), 94-105. https://doi.org/10.1108/AAOUJ-01-2017-0011
Akbar, M.A., Rachid, M.M., & Embong, A.H. (2018). Technology-based learning system in the internet of things (IoT) education. 2018 7th International Conference on Computer and Communication Engineering, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 192-197. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICCE.2018.8539334
Al Tameemy, F. (2017). Mobile phones for teaching and learning: Implementation and students’ and teachers’ attitudes. Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 45(3), 436-451. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047239516669754
Apuke, O.D., & Iyendo, T.O. (2018). University students’ usage of the internet resources for research and learning: forms of access and perceptions of utility. Heliyon, 4, e01052. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e01052
Baloran, R.T. (2020). Knowledge, attitudes, anxiety, and coping strategies of students during COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 25(8), 635-642. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2020.1769300
Baltes, S., & Raloh, P. (2021). Sampling in software engineering research: A critical review and guidelines. https://arxiv.org/pdf/2002.07764.pdf
Bisht R.K., Jasola, S., & Bisht, I.P. (2020). Acceptability and challenges of online higher education in the era of COVID-19: A study of students’ perspective. Asian Education and Development Studies, (ahead of print). https://doi.org/10.1108/AEDS-05-2020-0119
Casillano, N.F.B. (2019). Challenges of implementing an e-learning platform in an internet struggling province in the Philippines. Indian Journal of Science and Technology, 12(10), 1-4. https://doi.org/10.17485/ijst/2019/v12i10/137594
Chase, T.J.G., Julius, A., Chandan, J.S., Powell, E., Hall. C.S., Phillips, B.L., Burnett, R., Gill, D., & Fernando, B. (2018). Mobile learning in medicine: An evaluation of attitudes and behaviors of medical students. BMC Medical Education, 18(152), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-018-1264-5
Chung E., Subramaniam, G., & Dass, L.D. (2020a). Online learning readiness among university students in Malaysia amidst COVID-19. Asian Journal of University Education,16(2),46-58. https://doi.org/10.24191/ajue.v16i2.10924
Chung, E., Noor, N.M., & Mathew V.N. (2020b). Are you ready? An assessment of online learning readiness among university students. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education & Development, 9(1), 301-317. http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARPED/v9-i1/7128
Cleofas, J.V., & Rocha, I.C.N. (2021). Demographic, gadget, and internet profiles as determinants of disease and consequence related COVID-19 anxiety among Filipino college students. Education and Information Technologies, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10529-9
Essel, H.B., Nunoo, F.K.N., Menson, A.T., Amankwa, J.O. (2018). Higher education students’ ownership and usage of smartphones and tablets: The case of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). International Journal of Educational Technology, 5(1), 20-28. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1182237
Estira, K.L.A. (2020). Online distance learning readiness of business administration students in one state university in the Philippines. Journal of Critical Reviews, 7(12), 826-832. http://dx.doi.org/10.31838/jcr.07.12.146
Fabito, B.S., Trillanes, A.O., & Sarmiento, J.R. (2021). Barriers and challenges of computing students in an online learning environment: Insights from one private university in the Philippines. International Journal of Computing Sciences Research, 5(1), 441-458. https://doi.org/10.2514/ijcsr.2017.001.1.51
Gulatee, Y., & Combes, B.A. (2018). Owning ICT: Student use and ownership of the technology. Walailak Journal of Science and Technology, 15(1), 81-94. https://doi.org/10.48048/wjst.2018.2868
Gezgin, D.M. (2017). Exploring the influence of the patterns of mobile internet use on university students’ nomophobia levels. European Journal of Education Studies, 3(6), 29-53. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.572344
Hossain, M.A., & Rahman, M.H. (2017). Comparative study of internet usage among university students: A study of the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. European Scientific Journal, 13(34), 134-150. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2017.v13n34p134
Jin, W., & Sabio, C.J. (2018). Potential use of mobile devices in selected public senior high schools in the city of Manila Philippines. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 17(4), 102-114, https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter17.4.7
Kapasia, N., Paul, P., Roy, A., Saha, J., Zaveri, A., Mallick, R., Barman, B., Das, P., & Chouhan, P. (2020). Impact of lockdown on learning status of undergraduate and postgraduate students during COVID-19 pandemic in West Bengal, India. Children and Youth Services Review, 116, 105195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105194
Lorenzo, A.R. (2017). Comparative study on the performance of Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSE) students in educational technology using blended learning strategy and traditional face-to-face instruction. Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 16(3), 36-46. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1152658
Muthuprasad, T., Aiswarya, S., Aditya, K.S., & Jha, G.K. (2021). Students’ perception and preference for online education in India during COVID-19 pandemic. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 3, 100101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2020.100101
Nassaji, H. (2015). Qualitative and descriptive research: Data type versus data analysis. Language Teaching Research, 19(2), 129-132. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168815572747
Serhan, D. (2020). Transitioning from face-to-face to remote learning: Students attitudes and perceptions of using zoom during COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Technology in Education and Science, 4(4), 335-342. https://doi.org/10.46328/ijtes.v4i4.148
Siddiquah, A., & Salim, Z. (2017). The ICT facilities, skills, usage, and the problems faced by the students of higher education. EURASIA Journal of Mathematics Science and Technology Education, 13(8), 4987-4994. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2017.00977a
Sileyew, K. J. (2019). Research Design and Methodology. https://www.intechopen.com/books/cyberspace/research-design-and-methodology.
Taherdoost, H. (2016). Sampling methods in research methodology; how to choose a sampling technique for research. International Journal of Academic Research in Management, 5(2), 18-27. https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02546796
Tarimo, R., & Kavishe, G. (2017). Internet access and usage by secondary school students in Morogoro municipality, Tanzania. International Journal of Education and Development Using Information and Communication, Technology, 13(2), 56-69. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1153320.pdf
Wickramanayake, L., & Muhammad Jika, S. (2018). Social media use by undergraduate students of education in Nigeria: A survey. The Electronic Library, 36(1), 21-37. https://doi.org//10.1108/EL-02-2017-0023
Yra, J.F.P., Castillo, R.H., Bautista, R.G., Camayang, J.G., & Camayang, A.G.G. (2020). Students’ online learning readiness and internet connectivity: Bases for the customization of QSU e-Aral. American Journal of Educational Research, 8(11), 878-894. https://doi.org/10.12691/education-8-11-8
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Copyright (c) 2021 Studies in Humanities and Education

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.