Nursing Students’ Perceptions and Acceptance of Online Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the order of life in various aspects of life, including the field of education in Indonesia. AIM: The purpose of this study was to explore student perceptions and acceptance of the advantages and disadvantages of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and analyze the factors that influence these perceptions. METHODS: The research is in the form of a survey using Google forms about the perception and acceptance of online lectures during the COVID-19 pandemic for nursing students at universities in Indonesia, a questionnaire sent through WhatsApp and held from July 1, 2021 to July 30, 2021. RESULTS: The many of respondents aged 17–19 years (50%) with Diploma-students (62.9%). The most of them have intermediate-level skills in using information technology (82.2%). The platform that is often used is Zoom meeting. The advantages of online learning are that students state that they can study from home (22.2%) and easily access online sources of material (19.9%) and can obtain recordings of each lesson (18.6%). Constraints that are often faced are technical problems (24.6%), very minimal interaction with lecturers (18.4%), and very minimal interaction between students (17.5%). Age and skills in using technology, information and communication have a significant effect on students’ perceptions of online learning (p < 0.05). Most respondents have a negative perception (52.2%) about online learning. CONCLUSION: Although there are several advantages to online learning, students’ perceptions of the learning process are negative, meaning that they are happier and still want face-to-face learning.