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International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

Open Access Journal

ISSN: 2222-6990

Exploring Malaysian Tertiary Students’ Behavioural, Cognitive, Emotional and Social Engagement and Disengagement in ODL

Sofwah Md Nawi, Suhaili Mohd Yusof, Puteri Nur Hidayah Kamaludin, Noridah Sain

http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v11-i4/9826

Open access

Learning engagement is a determinant for success across any learning mode, putting emphasis on the quality of the students’ participation in their own academic journey. However, this is an especially daunting challenge for open and distance learning (ODL). This is further exacerbated when the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced the sudden shift to ODL mode, putting students in academic situations that they are unaccustomed to. To examine whether the engagement of tertiary-level students in Malaysia is affected by the change in learning mode, this research aims to identify indicators that make them engage as well as disengage during ODL lessons. A survey instrument known as Learner-Engagement-Technology (LET), was used to measure the level of engagement and disengagement in four categories each, namely behavioural, cognitive, emotional and social aspects. Responses from 129 undergraduates in a public higher learning institution in Malaysia were analysed. The descriptive analysis revealed that the students do engage more than disengage, albeit at a moderate level. The highest indicators of engagement and disengagement however were different. This research is part of an ongoing study and the results can help inform various stakeholders (e.g. lecturers, administrators, policy makers) of the possible causes of engagement and disengagement during ODL classes, so that a more comprehensive and decisive approach can be taken to improve the overall ODL experience for the students.

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In-Text Citation: (Nawi et al., 2021)
To Cite this Article: Nawi, S. M., Yusof, S. M., Kamaludin, P. N. H., & Sain, N. (2021). Exploring Malaysian Tertiary Students’ Behavioural, Cognitive, Emotional and Social Engagement and Disengagement in ODL. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 11(4), 1296–1311.