Learning experience and barriers throughout open distance learning mode: A case study of UiTM Pahang students / Noor Hasimah M Yacob …[et al.]

Due to the pandemic of Covid19, UiTM moved all classes to online and distance learning
(ODL) mode effective from April 13, 2020 for all its campuses. This sudden change made all
the lecturers and students felt difficult and unsure of being able to continue the teaching and
learning process throughout ODL mode. However, the academic session must be continued to
ensure that the students still can learn, and they can graduate on time. Therefore, this paper
aims to study the learning experience of the students and barriers faced throughout the ODL
mode. In achieving the objectives of the study, the data were gathered from a set of
questionnaires distributed to 723 students in UiTM Pahang, Jengka Branch. The study found
that most of the students have a good learning experience dealing with their lecturers during
the ODL. However, they have faced several barriers that may lead to dissatisfaction with
online learning such as time management, stress and tired, lack of family support, difficulties
of students to understand the lesson taught, or materials provided by the lecturers. Only a few
of them having a problem with internet and device performance, in term s of technology
skills, majority of them were not experts in using Learning Management System (LMS). The
result of the study might be used by respective authorities to improve the guidelines
regarding the ODL process in the future. Further study should be conducted to see the impact
of online learning barriers to their academic performance.