Track: Undergraduate Research Competition

Abstract

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, face–to–face interactions are prohibited by the government, pushing various institutions to shift from the traditional to the online style of teaching. However, the question is whether online learning is as effective as a traditional learning mode. This research explores the learning experience and current issues within engineering education. It compares the Learning Experience between traditional learning and the enriched virtual mode of learning in Introduction to Engineering. The researchers conducted the study at the University of Santo Tomas, wherein they identified two groups of students. The controlled group consists of students from the traditional learning method, and the experimental group consists of students from the enriched virtual mode. The researchers used the Mann-Whitney-U test to see if there is a significant difference between groups under the factors chosen by the researchers that affect the learning experience. The main findings of the research state that there is no significant difference between the controlled and experimental groups in learning effectiveness, student performance,  and student confidence. Researchers found a significant difference between the two groups in the two dependent variables, student satisfaction and faculty interaction. The study concluded that online learning is significant as traditional learning methods and is even superior to the traditional method in some factors used in the study. Lastly, the researchers recognize that online learning can be adapted as the learning tool used in delivering Introduction to Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Santo Tomas.