Fostering EFL digital educational transformation : a bright spot of the pandemic

Abstract EN

Palestine, like the rest of the globe, is dealing with the pandemic and is working hard to keep education ongoing in Palestinian academic institutions via digital learning.

To assess this unusual experience, the study examines the barriers and needs that online learners are facing when learning English as a Foreign Language through various LMS tools during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The study also compares learners' barriers and needs with regard to their gender and place of residence.

In addition, it investigates the relationship between learners' attitudes, barriers, and needs of online learners.

The sample consisted of 2,360 students from public schools.

The researcher used a five–point Likert questionnaire for research questions and SPSS to analyze the collected data.

Results indicated that the level of barriers in general were moderate and the level of needs was high.

There were no statistically significant differences (α= .05) found in the variables barriers to use LMSs and the needs of online learners due to gender or place of residence.

The results also indicate that learning English language online had a positive impact on students’ attitudes toward using LMSs that provided continuity of the learning process during the closure.

The findings show a link between the necessity to integrate LMS systems within education and the challenges that online learning faces.

Learners who had a high level of difficulty using LMSs had more needs to learn online than those who had a low level of difficulty.

In addition, there was a positive relationship between barriers, needs and attitudes towards technology and online learning.

It is suggested that the findings pique the interest of Palestinian authorities and experts, encouraging them to implement a fully interactive learning and reflection technique throughout all academic domains.

The researcher suggested conducting scientific investigations to foster advances in LMS portals to enhance learning English as a foreign language and similar educational disciplines.