Exploring Students’ Engagement in Distance Learning During the Pandemic of COVID-19: A Correlational Exploratory Design

ABSTRACT

This study aims to examine the students’ level of engagement in distance learning during the pandemic of COVID-19. Among all learning models, students’ engagement is considering a challenging factor, however this is particularly true in a remote learning environment. To obtain the research aims, a quantitative method, precisely Correlational Exploratory Design is conducted. Thus, a questionnaire is designed to collect the essential data from students. A total of (359) participants from Taibah University across different departments and programs were participated and completed self-report measures. The questionnaire consists of two main parts: first demographic questions, second different types of engagements (cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and social engagement) in distance learning. Making sense of these variables, enables reconsidering the decision-making regarding improving how distance learning is practiced for more successful and meaningful delivery. The result demonstrated that social engagement domain has been the only indicators of differences between gender in which female were more socially engaged than male, thus enhancing students’ social engagement is a critical area to be considered. Moreover, the participants in this study measured cognitive engagement with ‘strongly agreed’ measure. While behavioral and social engagement were just agreed. However, emotional engagement was reported by them as natural. This finding indicated that the students were ready to shift to distance learning during COVID-19 and they need emotional support during this time. This study suggests recommendations on how to improve students’ engagement.