Abstract:
After the COVID-19 outbreak, all sectors, including education, have been trying
to direct their activities through the online platform. Traditional face-to-face
learning has been replaced by online learning within a short period to ensure
educational continuity. The main objective of this study was to identify the factors
that influence students' preparedness for online learning following COVID-19
pandemic. A structured five-point Likert scale online questionnaires were
distributed over three weeks among stratified random sample of 138
undergraduates and postgraduate students enrolled in the Ampara Study Centre of
the Open University Sri Lanka with an 89% responsive rate. The software SPSS
Statistics version 26 was used to analyse the data that had been collected.
Frequencies, percentages, and the chi-square test were used to analyse the
demographic factors in the first section of the questionnaire. With the use of the
Cronbach's Alpha test, the validity was tested. inferential statistical analysis such
as correlation coefficient test, multiple regression test was followed to identify
factors that influencing online learning preparedness. The study revealed that
technical skill and availability of resources are the major factors that influence the
preparedness for online learning while the demographic factors and the
technological factors have no influence on this preparedness. Therefore, this study
recommends the university should provide additional training for the students to
increase their technical skills and awareness of the learning management system.
Further, each faculty also needs to ensure lessons are delivered more effectively
by making the necessary online learning materials easily accessible to the students.
