Digital Learning among Postgraduate Students in the Times of COVID-19: A Literature Review

Abstract

COVID-19, as a global pandemic has caused a dramatic change in the education landscape. With significant policies such as social distancing and movement restrictions, all educational institutions have been shut to flatten the curve. As a response to the unprecedented crisis, digital learning has been given rise to pushing behind conventional classes from primary to tertiary levels. The adoption of online lessons and digital classrooms has mechanized a new pattern of teaching and learning mediated by today’s educators in most universities, polytechnics, and colleges. The educators and students are facing the ripple effects of the sudden shift to digital learning. Some postgraduate students seemed to recognize and prepare to embrace the dramatic shift. In any case, some were hesitant to move from customary figuring out ways to embrace digital learning. Therefore, several articles discussing impacts and challenges from postgraduate students’ perspectives were summarized. Most of the current research recommended digital learning as one splendid approach to adapt during the pandemic period. Besides, study showed postgraduates’ undergoing an assimilation process with the new norm introduced. Furthermore, existing research highlights postgraduate student’s challenges such as technological difficulties, health, and lack of interaction. Thus, this paper aims to provide a literature review on digital learning from postgraduate student’s perspectives of various papers and indicate the way forward.