Virtual Learning and Student Wellbeing During COVID-19: Gender Matters?

Literature Review

Virtual learning is online learning that combines technology with teaching and learning processes. It provides a virtual platform to connect, interact and deliver knowledge in the most effective and efficient manner (Chen et al., 2020). Students may have a better connect to learn and gain without any restriction of location, time, and pace. Geographical boundaries, timeliness and pace of learning sometimes create hindrance in a conventional learning environment. Students may overcome from these problems with the use of virtual learning environment (Font et al., 2013).

There are normally three types of interactions in a virtual learning environment namely academic interaction, collaborative interaction, and interpersonal interaction. In academic interaction, the learner interacts with the educator for academic activities and to learn the content in an online environment (Moore, 1993; Moller, 1998). In the collaborative interaction, the learner interacts with the educator to discuss and solve any concern collaboratively (Moller, 1998; Adelsköld et al., 1999). Lastly, interpersonal interaction is a social interaction between learner and peers. In this interaction, learners connect with their peer group to get assistance on different social and academic issues (Gunawardena & Zittle, 1997; McDonald & Gibson, 1998).