EFL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ PERCEPTION OF THE USE OF

ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORM IN THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC

Desy Try Rahayu Bagata1, Atik Umamah2, Dzul Fikri3
Desytryrahayu5@gmail.com1, atikumamah@unisma.co.id2, dzulfik@yahoo.co.id3

Desy Try Rahayu Bagata

(Mahasiswa Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris FKIP Universitas Islam Malang)

Abstract: This study aims to describe the EFL university students’ perception of the
use of online learning platform in the covid-19 pandemic and to examine the
difference in students’ perception based on gender. The researcher conducted a
quantitative using survey design method. The sample of this study was 80 students
consists of 40 males and 40 females students of sixth year of the english education of
Universitas Islam Malang. The instrument of this study was an online
questionnaire by using a five-likert scale type. It uses to answer the students’
perception of the use of online learning platform. The result of the study showed that
the EFL students’ perception of the use of online learning platforms share positive
perception. The finding was also showed that there is a significant difference between
male and female of the use of online learning platform. Male students’ perspective is
more positive than females in the use of online learning platforms.

Keywords: students’ perception, online learning platform, gender

INTRODUCTION
Recently, various countries around the world have been shocked by the outbreak of

corona or COVID-19 (Corona Virus Diseases-19). Education in Indonesia has been one of

the areas impected by Covid-19. With limits, the Education Ministry in Indonesia has too

released a strategy aimed at dismantling educational institution and replacing the teaching

and learning process (KBM) with online systems. This situation forces teachers and students

to master the technology media in implementing online learning. Besides, the benefit of

technology in the learning process plays an important role both for teaching and learning.

According to Raja and Nagasubramani (2018), ICT has the power to increase access and

boost the importance and standard of education (p.34). Mohammed (2018) stated that an

LMS is a technology that provides a variety of tools to help lecturers manage their courses (p.
26). The use of platforms during the pandemic is needed to facilitate the teacher delivering

the material to students.

There are some studies performed by researchers on the performance of online

learning platform. Cakrawati (2017) showed that students who took part in the study see

online learning platforms as a user friendly learning resource that allows them to

communicate with their lecturers and friend outside the classroom. Also, students agree the

utilizing electronic learning tools in the learning phase is beneficial because saves time and

energy. Another study conducted by Kodriyah (2014) present that most of the participants

responded positively and accepted Edmodo is a simple and meaningful learning platform that

allows students to learn anywhere and anytime without meet and interaction with lecturers

and other classmates. Edmodo is really simple to use since students can take assignments;

apply homework, questionnaire, and conduct tasks online. Similarly, Sanad (2016) found that

students have strong and positive perceptions of Facebook as an online learning platform as a

learning environment. Students always had a strong positive attitude in teaching and learning

process using Facebook.

The research shortcomings above address the context of learning did not fully online

because it was still face to face or offline. Furthermore, the previous studies did not see the

perception of the difference based on gender. Therefore, in this study, the researcher

examines EFL University students’ perceptions on the use of online learning platforms with

full online learning carried out during the COVID 19 pandemic and looks at the differences

students’ perceptions based on gender.

Based on the background, the researcher formulates the following problem:

1. How do EFL university students perceive the use of the online learning platform in

the COVID 19 pandemic?

2. Is there any difference in the EFL university students' perceptions based on gender?
 There are some purposes based on the research questions above. This study aims to

describe the EFL university students’ perception of the use of online learning platform in

the COVID 19 pandemic and to examine the difference in students’ perception based on

gender. The researcher also has a hypothesis that there is a significant difference between

males and females students of the use of online learning platform.

Walgito (2003, p. 87) states that perception is the process of human thinking about

certain phenomenon while Demuth (2013, p. 31) proposes that perception is a result of the

interaction between stimulus and internal inference, desires and experience of the observer.

Stone and Neilson (1985, p. 205) also add that perception is a cognitive arrangement of

sensory stimuli related to spesific person, object, or event. From the theory above it can be

concluded that perception is an important psychological aspect humans in responding to the

presence of various aspects and symptoms around them. Chen (2003) states that the

students’ perception very important for evaluating the effectiveness of teaching and

learning. Perception contains a very broad understanding, both internal and external. Each

student has a diversity of skills and personality. The characteristics of students need to be

taken into account because they can influence the course on the learning outcomes of the

students concerned.

Gomez (2016) stated that the online learning platform is a way to structure the

instruction, which encourages optimal content organization and student interaction. online

learning platforms can reduce the workload of lecturers, improve teaching and learning

process inside and outside the classroom (AS, 2011). Online learning platforms is a learning

tool that brings lecturers, students, and parents have access to general resources,

communication tools, and information, both inside and outside the classroom. Ouadoud

(2016) stated that an Online learning platform is a software including services to assist

teachers in the management of their course. Cheng (2006) claims that an online learning
platform is something supplied, allowed, or mediated by electronic technology for the

explicit learning purpose. Dodun (2015) proposed that the online learning platforms are

used fairly commonly in various stages of formal education processes; e-learning includes

all educational circumstances where communication and information technology means are

used significantly.

METHODOLOGY

The population of the study is the female and male students of the sixth semester of

the English Department at Universitas Islam Malang because they more experienced in

using online learning platforms. In this study the researcher using purposive sampling. The

target of participants in this study was 80 students which consist of 40 male and 40 female

students. Some procedures performed by the researcher during the study. Firstly, the

researchers prepare instruments to collect the data. Secondly, adopt a questionnaire from

Al-khatari (2015) which questions about students’ perception in the use of online learning

platforms. Thirdly, the researcher asks permission to the Faculty of Teacher Training and

Education office, Supervisor, and lecturers to conduct the research. After obtaining

permission from several parties above, the researcher asked participants to be part of the

research. The researcher distributes the questionnaire then asks the participants to open a

google form and fill in the questionnaire that has been provided.

The instrument of this study consists of an online questionnaire by using a Five-Likert

Scale type where the contents adopted from Al-Khatari (2015), which generates an

analytical database on the participants. It uses to answer the students’ perception of the use

of online learning platform. There are 20 questions consists of 15 questions about students'

perceptions on the use of online learning platforms and 5 questions of what the students’

challenges are. In the questionnaire, there are several additional questions related to

participant background information such as name, class/semester, and gender, also how
 often use the online learning platform, and what online learning platform is used. The

questionnaire has been translated into Indonesian and validated by the integrated laboratory

team Faculty of Teacher Training and Education to make students more uderstand about the

statements in each number. The researcher analyzes the data from students’ respond in

questionnaire that has been filled out by participants. It needs to calculate used the SPSS

stand for Statistical Package for Social Science. In this study, the researcher used

descriptive statistics to know how EFL university students’ perception of the use of online

learning platform and used independent sample t-test to know the difference of students’

perception on the use of online learning platform based on gender.

Table 1. Level Average Adopted from Oxford (1990)

High Strongly agree 4.5 to 5.0

Agree 3.5 to 4.4

Medium Neutral 2.5 to 3.4

Low Disagree 1.5 to 2.4

Strongly disagree 1.0 to 1.4

FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS

A descriptive statistics were performed to analyze the students’ perceptions, and it

was found that in general, the students’ perceptions on the use of online learning platforms

are positive as indicate by the mean of 3.24 (Table 2.). The average score positive perception

of the use of an online learning platform (3.53) followed by a perception of the students'

challenges (2.94). Detailed interpretation of each aspect of perceptions is discussed in the

following section.
 Table 2. Descriptive Statistics
N Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation
Students’ Perception 80 2.10 4.90 3.53 .56

Students’ Challenge 80 1.00 5.00 2.94 .91

OVERALL 3.24

Students’ perception obtains the highest mean, showing the students’ positive responses

towards the use of online learning platform (Table 3.). It can be seen from 6 items (1, 4, 5, 6, 9,

10, 11, 12, 14) and flexibility in terms of function and interface. Meanwhile, 9 items (2, 3, 7, 8,

13, 15) show a neutral mode of perception, indicating that the students are not sure that they do

not need mental effort in the use of an online learning platform.

Table 3. Analysis of students’ perception

NO. Item Mean Std.

Deviation

1. Online learning platform meets my needs such as 3.68 (positive) .70

mobility and social communication

2. Online learning platform offers me more 3.31 (neutral) 1.09

opportunities to interact with my teacher and
peers outside classroom

3. Students who are shy to participate in class, 3.48 (neutral) .90

usually feel more comfortable communicating
using online learning platform.

4. Online learning platform saves effort and time by 3.78 (positive) .79
doing and submitting assignments electronically

5. Online learning platform services like (SMS 3.70 (positive) .77

messages, alerts, notes) give me a running record
of assignments’ due date and a description of
what is expected.
6. When absent, I can easily access class materials 3.65 (positive) 1.00
 and assignments through online learning platform

7. Online learning platform reduces learning cost 3.48 (neutral) 1.14

(e.g. photocopying, designing posters).

8. Online learning platform helps me practicing my 3.25 (neutral) .94

language skills through conversations

9. Online learning platform me a chance to share my 3.71 (positive) .88

writing with my teacher and peers

10. Online learning platform helps me acquiring new 3.71 (positive) .87
English vocabulary

11. Online learning platform helps to make my 3.55 (positive) .96

reading experience more interesting

12. I can improve my listening skill through the audio 3.68 (positive) .80
files uploaded on online learning platform

13. Online learning platform allows me to get 3.39 (neutral) .97

immediate feedback from my teacher.

14. Online learning platform can complement 3.59 (positive) .88

classroom teaching and learning.

15. Online learning platform promotes the 3.14 (neutral) 1.12

effectiveness of EFL instruction at secondary
stage

Table 4. shows 3 negative items (16,19,20) which indicate that they feel not challenged in

using an online learning platform. The 2 items neutral (17,18) indicating that the students are

not sure about the challenges of using an online learning platform.

Table 4. Analysis Students’ Challenges

No. Item Mean Std. Deviation

1. I lack access to computers or any mobile 2.64 (negative) 1.37

devices at home.

2. Online learning platform requires long time to 3.09 (neutral) 1.17

master its use

3. I need to learn some troubleshooting 3.32 (neutral) 1.11

technology tasks to help myself when using
online learning platform
 4. I dislike using online learning platform 2.89 (negative) 1.26
Mobile because the small-sized screen causes
me difficulty in navigation and typing

5. I get frustrated by using online learnling 2.80 (negative) 1.37

platform Mobile, because of the slow-speed
internet on my mobile

The average difference is for all aspects of perception: students’ perception and

students’ challenges. In the descriptive variable that have been analyzed involve mean of

male 3.422 with standard deviation 0.654 and mean of female 3.060 with standard deviation

0.463. The result showed mean of male student more highest then female students. It means

that the students share different perspectives. Male students’ perspective is more positive than

females in the use of online learning platforms (table 5)

Table 5. Group Statistics

Students N Mean Std. Deviation Std. Error Mean

Students’ perception, Male 40 3.422 .654 .103

Students’ challenges Female 40 3.060 .463 .073

The hypothesis testing of this research is proved through the output of the
independent sample t-test calculated in SPSS 20.0 version. Based on the analysis data using
independent t-test the data showed that there is a significant difference between male and
female students in their perceptions on the use of online learning platforms (Table 6). It is
indicated by the significance value (.006) which is smaller than 0.05. It has answered the
second research question and proved that the researcher hypothesis “there is significant
differences between males and females of the use of online learning platform” was accepted.
 Table 6. Result of Analyzing Data Using Independent T-test

Levene's Test t-test for Equality of Means

for Equality of
Variances
F Sig. T Df Sig. Mean Std. Error 95%
(2- Difference Difference Confidence
tailed) Interval of the
Difference
Lower Upper
Students’ Equal variances
5.127 .026 2.854 78 .006 .362 .126 .109 .614
perception, assumed
Students’
challenges

Equal variances 70.2

2.854 .006 .362 .126 .109 .615
not assumed 74

From all the data calculated, it is interpreted as the perception from students of

English department sixth semester is an online learning platform that saves time and effort by

doing and submitting an assignment electronically. This is the positive effect from online

learning platform. Al-khatiri (2015) discussed students’ perceptions. Al-khatiri (2015) stated

that the online learning platform has a feedback feature, so students can easily give the direct

question and get a direct answer from the lecturer. The above statements proof the findings in

this research about “online learning platform saves time and effort by doing and submitting

an assignment electronically”.

Two items have been analyzed by the researcher (students’ perception and students’

challenges). The first item is a questionnaire of students' perception of the use of an online

learning platform consist of 15 questions, with the highest mean about 3.78, it comes from

question number 4 (online learning platform saves time and effort by doing and submitting an

assignment electronically). It is can be interpreted as students feel that online learning

platforms help them in submitting the assignment, because online learning platform can save

students times and efforts while doing and submitting the assignment electronically.

Cakrawati (2017) also found a similar result that students also think that online learning

platform such as Edmodo is convenient to use especially in submitting/collecting their

assignments.

The second item is about the challenges faced by the students of the use of an online

learning platform. The questionnaire of the challenges in the online learning platform consists

of 5 questions, with the highest mean 3.32. The highest mean from this data come from the

question number 18 (I need to learn some troubleshooting technology tasks to help myself

when using online learning platform). Mirfani (2019) learning troubleshooting are used to

train students in making decisions while learning using an online learning platform. In this

case, the students feel not sure about the challenge they faced. The lowest mean from this

data comes from question number 16 with the mean 2.64 (I lack access to computers or any

mobile devices at home for learning English). It showed that the lack of internet access to the

computer does not become a problem faced by students because internet networks are

widespread and participants may live in areas with good signals. According to Kamarga as

cited in Setiawardhani (2013) the internet is a global network of thousands and millions of

computers, including the local network, which is connected through channels (satellite,

telephone, cable) and influence the entire of world. Setiawardhani (2013) the internet network

is not an organization or institution, it's independent because they are not a part that regulates

and have it. Moreover, students don’t feel that internet access is a huge problem in the use of

online learning platforms.

The result of the study showed that there is a significant difference of students’

perception in the use of online learning platform based on gender. Male students more like

use online learning platforms for online learning than female students. Based on Google form
recapitulation there are 30 male students share positive perspective while female students

share 24 positive perspective of the use of online learning platform. Rantung (2015) In terms

of technology use every individual's internet has a perception uses, attitudes, and learning

interests are different. According to Selwyn (2008) internet usage among students very

different based on gender, males showed great interest in internet usage compared to the

woman. Alobiedat and Saraierh (2010), the male has a keen interest higher use of technology,

because of male naturally prefers the practical and so fast when doing male assignments

prefer to use technology internet.

CONCULUSION AND SUGGESTIONS

. The result of the research questions about how EFL university students perceive the

use of the online learning platform in the COVID 19 pandemic showed that the students have

a positive perception toward the use of online learning platforms. Moreover, the online

learning platform has some advantages for online learning during the pandemic which is the

whole learning process full online.

The researcher gives a suggestion related to the study for lecturers are expected to be

able to see the state and abilities of students in using online learning platforms. One of the

important things that the teacher must do is create a module for learning troubleshooting in

using the platform. So students can easily make decisions when learning using an online

learning platform. Lecturers also have to learn more creatively so that their students don't feel

bored of using online learning platform. For future researchers who interested in doing a

study about students’ perception. The researcher suggested to adding an instrument for

collect the data such as interviews so that the perception is clarified in more detail and

analyze more in depth the differences of the use of online learning platforms based on gender.
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