ERIC Number: EJ1405047
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0744-8481
EISSN: EISSN-1940-3208
Health and Education Concerns about Returning to Campus and Online Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic among US Undergraduate STEM Majors
Lindsay E. Palmer; Sherry L. Pagoto; Deja Workman; Kathrine A. Lewis; Lauren Rudin; Nina De Luna; Valeria Herrera; Nathanial Brown; Jessica Bibeau; Kaylei Arcangel; Molly E. Waring
Journal of American College Health, v71 n8 p2604-2611 2023
Objective: We examined undergraduates' concerns about returning to campus and online learning from home. Participants: Undergraduates majoring in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) at US universities/colleges. Methods: Participants completed an online survey in July 2020. We content-analyzed responses to open-ended questions about concerns about fall 2020. Results: Students (N = 64) were 52% women, 47% low socioeconomic status (SES), and 27% non-Hispanic white. Concerns about returning to campus included student noncompliance with university COVID-19 prevention guidelines (28%), infection risk (28%), poor instructional quality (26%), inadequate university plans for preventing/handling outbreaks (25%), negative impacts on social interactions (11%), and transportation/commuting (11%). Concerns about learning from home included difficulty focusing on schoolwork (58%), lack of hands-on/experiential learning (24%), negative impacts on social interactions (19%), family/home environment (15%), concerns that online learning wastes time/money (10%), and inadequate technology/Internet access (5%). Conclusions: Universities should address student concerns and provide resources to overcome barriers to effective learning.
Descriptors: Undergraduate Students, STEM Education, Majors (Students), COVID-19, Pandemics, Student Characteristics, In Person Learning, Health Behavior, Student Behavior, Guidelines, Risk, Educational Quality, Emergency Programs, Interpersonal Relationship, Student Transportation, Commuting Students, Online Courses, Distance Education, Barriers, Interaction, Experiential Learning, Family Environment, Access to Computers
Taylor & Francis. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF); National Institutes of Health (NIH) (DHHS)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: 2028344; 2028341; K24HL124366