IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i9p5038-d546917.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Factors for Sustainable Online Learning in Higher Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Amanda M. Y. Chu

    (Department of Social Sciences, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)

  • Connie K. W. Liu

    (Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada)

  • Mike K. P. So

    (Department of Information Systems, Business Statistics and Operations Management, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong)

  • Benson S. Y. Lam

    (Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Insurance, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected educational institutions and instructors in an unprecedented way. The majority of educational establishments were forced to take their courses online within a very short period of time, and both instructors and students had to learn to navigate the digital array of courses without much training. Our study examined factors that affect students’ attitude toward online teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is different from other online learning studies where online courses are mostly a method of choice, with suitable support from institutions and expectation from instructors and students, rather than a contingency. Under this specific environment, we utilized an online survey to collect students’ feedback from eleven universities across Hong Kong. Using partial least squares for analysis on the 400 valid samples we received, we found that peer interactions and course design have the most salient impact on students’ attitude, whereas interactions with instructors has no effect at all on students’ attitude. Furthermore, we also provide suggestions on using the existing technologies purchased during COVID-19 for a more sustainable learning environment going forward.

Suggested Citation

  • Amanda M. Y. Chu & Connie K. W. Liu & Mike K. P. So & Benson S. Y. Lam, 2021. "Factors for Sustainable Online Learning in Higher Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-16, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:9:p:5038-:d:546917
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/9/5038/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/9/5038/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Amanda Chu & Patrick Chau & Mike So, 2015. "Explaining the Misuse of Information Systems Resources in the Workplace: A Dual-Process Approach," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 131(1), pages 209-225, September.
    2. Marian Buil-Fabregá & Matilde Martínez Casanovas & Noemí Ruiz-Munzón & Walter Leal Filho, 2019. "Flipped Classroom as an Active Learning Methodology in Sustainable Development Curricula," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-15, August.
    3. Maryam Alavi & Dorothy E. Leidner, 2001. "Research Commentary: Technology-Mediated Learning—A Call for Greater Depth and Breadth of Research," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, March.
    4. Nabil Hasan Al-Kumaim & Abdulsalam K. Alhazmi & Fathey Mohammed & Nadhmi A. Gazem & Muhammad Salman Shabbir & Yousef Fazea, 2021. "Exploring the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on University Students’ Learning Life: An Integrated Conceptual Motivational Model for Sustainable and Healthy Online Learning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-20, February.
    5. Vlad I. Bocanet & Ken Brown & Anne Uukkivi & Filomena Soares & Ana Paula Lopes & Anna Cellmer & Carles Serrat & Cristina Feniser & Florina M. Serdean & Elena Safiulina & Gerald Kelly & Joanna Cymerman, 2021. "Change in Gap Perception within Current Practices in Assessing Students Learning Mathematics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-13, April.
    6. Hasnan Baber, 2020. "Determinants of Students’ Perceived Learning Outcome and Satisfaction in Online Learning during the Pandemic of COVID19," Journal of Education and e-Learning Research, Asian Online Journal Publishing Group, vol. 7(3), pages 285-292.
    7. Amanda M. Y. Chu & Mike K. P. So, 2020. "Organizational Information Security Management for Sustainable Information Systems: An Unethical Employee Information Security Behavior Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-25, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Zhonggen Yu & Wei Xu & Liheng Yu, 2022. "Constructing an Online Sustainable Educational Model in COVID-19 Pandemic Environments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-16, March.
    2. Jangwan Ko & Seungsu Paek & Seoyoon Park & Jiwoo Park, 2021. "A News Big Data Analysis of Issues in Higher Education in Korea amid the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-18, June.
    3. Fangfei Li & Tinghe Jin & Palitha Edirisingha & Xi Zhang, 2021. "School-Aged Students’ Sustainable Online Learning Engagement during COVID-19: Community of Inquiry in a Chinese Secondary Education Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-20, September.
    4. Eva Blondeel & Patricia Everaert & Evelien Opdecam, 2021. "And Then There Was COVID-19: Do the Benefits of Cooperative Learning Disappear When Switching to Online Education?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-18, November.
    5. Tabea Bork-Hüffer & Vanessa Kulcar & Ferdinand Brielmair & Andrea Markl & Daniel Marian Immer & Barbara Juen & Maria Hildegard Walter & Katja Kaufmann, 2021. "University Students’ Perception, Evaluation, and Spaces of Distance Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Austria: What Can We Learn for Post-Pandemic Educational Futures?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-25, July.
    6. Bireswar Dutta & Mei-Hui Peng & Chien-Chih Chen & Shu-Lung Sun, 2021. "Interpreting Usability Factors Predicting Sustainable Adoption of Cloud-Based E-Learning Environment during COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-22, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Fangfei Li & Tinghe Jin & Palitha Edirisingha & Xi Zhang, 2021. "School-Aged Students’ Sustainable Online Learning Engagement during COVID-19: Community of Inquiry in a Chinese Secondary Education Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-20, September.
    2. Proserpio, Luigi & Magni, Massimo, 2012. "Teaching without the teacher? Building a learning environment through computer simulations," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 99-105.
    3. Tabea Bork-Hüffer & Vanessa Kulcar & Ferdinand Brielmair & Andrea Markl & Daniel Marian Immer & Barbara Juen & Maria Hildegard Walter & Katja Kaufmann, 2021. "University Students’ Perception, Evaluation, and Spaces of Distance Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Austria: What Can We Learn for Post-Pandemic Educational Futures?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-25, July.
    4. Savitha Basri & Iqbal Thonse Hawaldar & Raveendranath Nayak & Habeeb Ur Rahiman, 2022. "Do Academic Stress, Burnout and Problematic Internet Use Affect Perceived Learning? Evidence from India during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-18, January.
    5. Rebeca Martínez-García & Fernando J. Fraile-Fernández & Gabriel Búrdalo-Salcedo & Ana María Castañón-García & María Fernández-Raga & Covadonga Palencia, 2022. "Satisfaction Level of Engineering Students in Face-to-Face and Online Modalities under COVID-19—Case: School of Engineering of the University of León, Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-12, May.
    6. Rao Faizan Ali & P.D.D. Dominic & Kashif Ali, 2020. "Organizational Governance, Social Bonds and Information Security Policy Compliance: A Perspective towards Oil and Gas Employees," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-27, October.
    7. Yi-Chen Lai & Li-Hsun Peng, 2019. "Effective Teaching and Activities of Excellent Teachers for the Sustainable Development of Higher Design Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-27, December.
    8. Claudia Salceanu & Oana-Maria Agapie, 2022. "Emotional Intelligence and Personality Traits in Higher Education," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 33(1), pages 416-429, July.
    9. Radhika Santhanam & De Liu & Wei-Cheng Milton Shen, 2016. "Research Note—Gamification of Technology-Mediated Training: Not All Competitions Are the Same," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 27(2), pages 453-465, June.
    10. Azan, Wilfrid & Ivanaj, Silvester & Rolland, Olivier, 2019. "Modular path customization and knowledge transfer: Causal model learnings," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 182-193.
    11. Clemente Rodríguez-Sabiote & Álvaro Manuel Úbeda-Sánchez & José Álvarez-Rodríguez & Daniel Álvarez-Ferrándiz, 2020. "Active Learning in an Environment of Innovative Training and Sustainability. Mapping of the Conceptual Structure of Research Fronts through a Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-18, September.
    12. César Torres Martín & Christian Acal & Mohammed El Homrani & Ángel Custodio Mingorance Estrada, 2021. "Impact on the Virtual Learning Environment Due to COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-16, January.
    13. Valentin Kuleto & Milena P. Ilić & Nevenka Popović Šević & Marko Ranković & Dušan Stojaković & Milutin Dobrilović, 2021. "Factors Affecting the Efficiency of Teaching Process in Higher Education in the Republic of Serbia during COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-20, November.
    14. Jyoti Choudrie & Efpraxia Zamani & Chike Obuekwe, 2022. "Bridging the Digital Divide in Ethnic Minority Older Adults: an Organisational Qualitative Study," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 24(4), pages 1355-1375, August.
    15. Hua-Xu Zhong & Po-Sheng Chiu & Chin-Feng Lai, 2021. "Effects of the Use of CDIO Engineering Design in a Flipped Programming Course on Flow Experience, Cognitive Load," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-13, January.
    16. Alina Mihaela Dima & Mihail Busu & Vanesa Madalina Vargas, 2022. "The mediating role of students’ ability to adapt to online activities on the relationship between perceived university culture and academic performance," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 13(4), pages 1253-1281, December.
    17. Anna Urbanek & Anna Losa & Monika Wieczorek-Kosmala & Karel Hlaváček & Aleš Lokaj, 2023. "Did the Quality of Digital Communication Skills in Education Improve after the Pandemic? Evidence from HEIs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-22, August.
    18. Varghese P. George, 2013. "A Communication-Focused Model For Learning And Education," Business Education and Accreditation, The Institute for Business and Finance Research, vol. 5(2), pages 117-130.
    19. Milena Buric & Milijana Novovic Buric & Andjela Jaksic Stojanovic & Ljiljana Kascelan & Dragica Zugić, 2022. "Sustainability of Online Teaching: The Case Study Mother Tongue Spelling Course at Montenegrin Universities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-27, October.
    20. Amanda M. Y. Chu, 2021. "Illegal Waste Dumping under a Municipal Solid Waste Charging Scheme: Application of the Neutralization Theory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-10, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:9:p:5038-:d:546917. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.