Optimizing Online Learning for Generation Alpha: Insight from Elementary Students in Malaysia

Abstract

This study aimed to explore Generation Alpha's post pandemic online learning experience to serve as a gateway to identify emerging opportunity and trends that have arisen in online learning at elementary levels. This study was conducted through case studies with 18 elementary online learners aged 9-12 in Malaysia. The participants were recruited through a purposive sampling method. The samples had experiences in emergency remote learning and still engaged with some online lessons during the study. As the participants were considered a vulnerable population, research ethics was approved by the Research Ethics Committee UTM to protect the participants' dignity, rights, and welfare. The interview data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Six themes emerged from the findings, namely (1) teacher, (2) community, (3) course, (4) technology, (5) effectiveness, and (6) challenges. Through the lens of children, we found that elementary learners have higher demands and expectations for the online teachers. Fun, interesting and productive were the common characteristics of their favourite online teacher. To be successful in elementary online learning, the stakeholders have to put effort into engaging parents to pass the first screen, and double the effort to engage elementary learners to sustain the students’ retention in online learning. This study provided details of children’s online learning after the pandemic, which served as an opportunity for the sector to reimagine and re-innovate to create a more sustainable virtual learning environment.