Issues and challenges of technology-enhanced learning during the Covid-19 era: A case study

Abstract

The conventional teaching and learning (T&L) approach involving face-to-face (F2F) classes and activities had to be adapted to the new norm of on-line teaching and learning, when the world faced the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. At the University of Technology Malaysia (Universiti Technologi Malaysia) (UTM), Johor Bahru, Malaysia, on-line T&L began soon after the onset of the pandemic and has continued to the present day. In this article, the authors focus on the challenges experienced by UTM electrical engineering students and instructors, including network connectivity, the learning experience and teaching transferable skills in engineering. The motivation to conduct this research was due to the drastic changes from F2F to on-line T&L. It was found that the mean Internet connectivity rate was more than acceptable for smooth on-line T&L throughout the country. However, the large standard deviation values show that there were differences in the students’ Internet experience and accessibility. The results also showed that students had difficulty mastering the engineering skills when they were learned through an on-line teaching method.