Graduate International Students’ Perceptions of Involuntary Online Learning: A Longitudinal Case Study

Breakout Room G

This ongoing longitudinal case study explores five international graduate students’ perceptions of online learning, particularly concerning their transition from in-person to online courses as a product of COVID-19, in order to better understand the affordances and challenges associated with this medium of instruction. Thematic analysis is used to identify emerging trends from qualitative data collected from semi-structured interviews and classroom observations. Findings indicate that (1) all the participants acknowledge and appreciate certain aspects of online learning, (2) some students are easily distracted and face a lack of motivation during synchronous classes, (3) English comprehension difficulties are enhanced for some individuals in the online interface, and (4) students struggle to build relationships and participate in Zoom sessions because of cultural differences and a lack of social cues. Pedagogical implications are then discussed.