Abstract

Online learning has become the most popular policy adopted by many higher education institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic, including in Indonesia. Teachers are not the only ones who are forced to adapt because of physical distancing policies, but also the students. This study aims at exploring students' perceptions of the sudden implementation of online learning instructions in higher education institutions. The study specifically explores students' general impressions, instructors' pedagogical abilities, tendency to use digital learning tools, time management, and support from surrounding environment. The survey was conducted online involving 206 students at 10 universities in Indonesia. The data was analyzed descriptively and the findings showed student’s discomfort and difficulties in applying online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Increasing digital pedagogical abilities of teachers and the support of the surrounding environment are the important elements that need to be given major attention. Both educational institutions and teachers can get enlightenment about aspects to improve the quality of learning while helping students to adapt to new patterns of distance learning that are conducted online

Key words: students, perceptions, pandemic