Pandemic in Retrospect: Students’ Evaluation of Distance Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study describes the distance learning experiences of university students in terms of their readiness, engagement, and performance amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It also examines the university’s and the administration’s support in attending to the academic and non-academic concerns of the students. Using a sequential explanatory design, the study utilized a quantitative online survey contextualized by qualitative methods such as key informant interviews and focus group discussions. The findings suggest the following: the students, in general, are equipped to manage distance education effectively, in terms of their gadgets, accessories, and internet connectivity; the remote learning mode engaged the students through the affordances brought by the learning platforms (VLE, MS Teams); and the students performed well in either major and general education subjects due in part to the support and performance of the teachers as well as the assistance of the university and the administration in laying down a framework for relevant teaching and learning. The students also demonstrated their preference for blended (50-50) classes, while it highlighted their concerns about mental health where it needed improvements. The study suggests that all forms of support are extended to optimize students’ learning while in quarantine. The study hopes that the findings will inform the crafting of university online learning policies in the following semesters.