JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Due to the widespread of COVID-19, the emergency homeschooling plan has been rigorously implemented in China.

Objective:

This study aimed to investigate the experience and attitude of elementary school students and their parents towards online learning in China during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Methods:

A 16-item questionnaire was distributed to 867 elementary students and their parents at 10 days, and 141 elementary students and their parents 30 days after the first online learning course. The questionnaire comprised questions regarding the completeness of course and homework, effectiveness, reliability, and abundance of courses, the enthusiasm to take part in online learning, and the satisfaction of online learning. Sociodemographic data, like students’ grades and equipment for online learning, were recorded.

Results:

In terms of equipment, lower grade pupils were more likely to choose TV to execute their online learning. Most of the students had good enthusiasm for taking online learning courses. Most of the students couldn’t do well in the online learning class and homework after class. The majority of elementary school parents thought that the reliability, effectiveness, and abundance of online courses were perfect. In terms of satisfaction, most parents were satisfied with online learning courses, and the score was above 6 points. In consist of parents, most students were satisfied with online learning courses, and the score also was above 6 points. For future study, most parents or students hoped to return to face-to-face learning in our study. Compared with the first stage, the proportion of students completing courses and homework after class in the second stage decreased significantly. In terms of the validity and reliability of the course, compared with the first stage, the evaluation of parents on online courses in the second stage was lower. Parents and students’ satisfaction with online courses decreased in the second stage, but there was no statistically significant difference between the two stages.

Conclusions:

Online learning can prevent the spread of infectious diseases, meanwhile allowing elementary school students to gain knowledge during the COVID-19 outbreak. Most enrolled elementary school students had full enthusiastic about participating in online learning. Both elementary school students and their parents were highly satisfied with online learning. In the initial phase of online learning, students were able to complete all online lessons and homework assignments after school very well. However, as time went on, the percentage of students who completed the courses and homework on time was decreased. Compared with the first stage, the satisfaction of students and their parents towards online learning decreased in the second stage. As soon as this happened, online learning remained an excellent form of education during the epidemic outbreak. To achieve better teaching results, some corrections need to be made to the lessons, such as making them more interactive.