Learner Engagement in Online Learning During Covid-19 Period for Future Projections

Abstract

The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic process, which is spreading rapidly all over the world, on health as well as on social life, and education, with this process, determining the factors affecting the participation of university students in the online learning process is important. In line with this purpose, it was tried to determine the factors affecting the online learning participation of university students. Within the scope of the research, data obtained from 588 university students were analysed statistically. When the findings were examined, it was seen that the most important variable affecting online learning participation in the Covid-19 pandemic period was internet access and speed in the regions where students live. It was observed that as access to the internet and internet speed increased, university students' participation in online learning increased. It was concluded that as the factors restricting access to online learning decreased, students' participation in learning increased. Another important finding of the research is that students' level of feeling comfortable in the environment they are in during the online learning process increases social interaction, integrative behaviour and group interaction during online lessons. In the online learning process, the level of social interaction between students shows that it significantly increases learning participation.