Work

Comparing Students’ Perspectives on Online Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Cultural Study of Undergraduate Students in the U.S. and Saudi Arabia

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The global educational landscape has grappled with unprecedented challenges amid the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting a seismic shift from traditional instruction to ubiquitous online learning. This study, employing an exploratory mixed-methods approach with 890 participants from Saudi and United States (U.S.) higher education institutions, scrutinizes and compares the perspectives of undergraduate students on online learning during the pandemic. Multiple regression analyses reveal divergent associations between U.S. and Saudi participants, highlighting varied attributes such as interactivity, learning environment, time management, cost, flexibility, and resource accessibility. Despite these differences, commonalities emerge in participants’ views on teacher roles, learning quality, academic success, and social interaction in the online milieu. Thematic analysis uncovers challenges related to the swift transition, including resource inadequacies and perceptions of online teaching quality. Nevertheless, positive aspects of online learning, such as cost-effectiveness and flexibility, are emphasized, underscoring its growing importance in higher education amid the pandemic’s challenges.

Source: International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET)

DOI: 10.3991/ijet.v20i01.47993

Authors: Burhan Ozfidan, Clarisse Halpern

Institution: Florida Gulf Coast University

Language: English

Topic: Education during COVID-19 pandemic

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Quality education, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $280