Hong Kong university students’ online learning experiences under the COVID-19 pandemic

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, online courses, especially the live-streaming classes have been adopted by universities and colleges as the primary teaching and learning method, no matter whether students and instructors are ready or not. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the live streaming courses to be on the frontline of higher education teaching. Recent studies have shown this sudden transformation has brought many confusions to students and instructors, and the learning effectiveness online cannot meet their expectation. Moreover, the suspects towards online learning have brought a discuss to the argument that online learning and teaching will soon replace the traditional face-to-face classes and become the remedy for issues face by current higher education. From the university students’ perspective on teaching and learning, what is the role of information and communication technology under the COVID-19 pandemic? More specifically, how college student evaluate their online learning experiences under the COVID-19 pandemic, are they satisfied with their learnings experience, do they think that their on-learning learning courses are as effective as face-to-face courses, what are the main challenges for their online learning? In order to understand university students’ online learning experiences in Hong Kong under the COVID-19 pandemic, this study used the survey approach and received 1,227 valid responses from eight public universities in Hong Kong and parts of other higher education institutions. The findings of this study show that only 27 percent of respondents were satisfied with their online learning experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 60 percent of respondents thought the learning effectiveness of online courses was worse than that of face-to-face courses. The survey results also show that students’ and instructors’ IT literacy and skills affect their online learning satisfaction and effectiveness. Higher education institutions thus should pay more attention to the trainings to students to help them get familiar with the online learning platforms and cultivate the appropriate online learning habits. The unprecedented global health crisis has rendered the “normal practices” inappropriate. Leaders and teachers must creatively make use of modern technology informing teaching and learning activities without undervaluing the importance of face-to-face instructions.