Immersive Experience during Covid-19: The Mediator Role of Alternative Assessment in Online Learning Environment

Abstract

Covid-19 pandemic has changed the education landscape hence students’ learning experience. The conventional face-to-face classroom has transformed into a synchronous online mode with minimal digital readiness. In the immense situations during the acquisition of knowledge, their learning absorptive capacity may be disrupted. To unpick their learning proficiency and design complex interactivity, this paper considers a digital platform for structured learning activities. The study particularly examines how various factors are associated with students’ online learning experience, particularly during the pandemic. An online survey of 312 respondents who used the Blackboard online learning platform was conducted, and a PLS-SEM analysis indicated that an alternative assessment mediated the relationship of learning readiness, student engagement, and student motivation toward student learning experience simultaneously. Overall, our study reiterates the need to address the mediator role of alternative assessment to succeed in online courses.