Students' Perceptions towards the Experience, Quality, Challenges and Effectiveness of Online Teaching-Learning...

Due to the massive transition from traditional face-to-face classes to distance online learning during the Covid-19 pandemic, a cross-sectional study was designed to investigate the perception of university students towards online education. The study was conducted among undergraduate students of Riyadh Elm University, KSA, in June 2021. Data were collected through a self-administered online questionnaire created via the Google Form platform. The link was distributed to the students by email through the administration office. The survey questionnaire contains 11 questions assessing students' perceptions related to students' experiences with online learning, the quality of online learning, the challenges faced by the students and the effectiveness of online learning during Covid-19 pandemic. Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 25.0. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the differences between groups while Spearman Rho test was used to evaluate correlation strength between the variables. A total of 309 students participated in this study, 66.0% were 18 to 24 years, and 71.5% were from the Faculty of Dentistry. The major constituents of online education were lectures (77.3%) and quiz (77.0%). There was a significant association between age groups and online learning participation. Age groups significantly correlated with 'independent learner' and 'accomplish assignments effectively'. IT and technical skills had a strong correlation with online learning technology, effective communication and convenience learning. This study demonstrated students' positive attitudes towards online learning and the effectiveness of blended learning in maintaining the quality of education during the Covid-19 pandemic.