COVID-19 Crisis: Can Mobile Technology Generate Digital Learning During The Movement Control Order (MCO)?

Abstract

As a result of the spread of COVID-19 disease, the Malaysian government has enforced the Movement Control Order (MCO) throughout the country. All organizations, including schools, are forced to close immediately, and instructions for implementing digital learning have been issued by the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE) to ensure that students continue their learning sessions even at home. Therefore, this study will identify factors that motivate teachers to use mobile technology as a digital teaching medium when MCO regulations implemented. The data collected from 253 secondary school teachers serving around the North of Peninsular Malaysia. These teachers have implemented the teaching and learning process online using various mediums like Whatsapp, Facebook, Telegram, Zoom, Google Meet, and Google Classroom. The results show that teachers who integrate mobile technology are heavily contributed by social influence, especially the role played by MOEs, school administration, and parents. However, it acknowledged that facilitating conditions such as weak internet access, and mobile technology capabilities have caused some difficulties in implementing digital learning during MCO. Nonetheless, teachers' willingness to implement pedagogy during the MCO should be praise despite realizing that the COVID-19 disaster has harmed the effectiveness of the teaching and learning process.

Keywords: Mobile technology, COVID-19, pedagogy, digital learning, Malaysia.