Title: Higher education during a global crisis: experiences migrating to a virtual learning environment in response to COVID-19

Authors: Mahmoud T. Khasawneh; Jared R. Dmello; John C. Kilburn; Alicia Segovia; Daphne Sanchez

Addresses: School of Engineering, Texas A&M International University, Laredo, TX 78041, USA ' School of Social Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia ' Department of Social Sciences, Texas A&M International University, Laredo, TX 78041, USA ' Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, The University of North Texas Health Science Centre at Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA ' School of Osteopathic Medicine, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX 78235, USA

Abstract: In Spring 2020, academic institutions worldwide took measures to comply with the recommendations provided by health authorities to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Institutions across the US transitioned to virtual learning environments as an emergency response. This study analyses the impact of an emergency transition to a virtual environment on learning experiences for both faculty and students at a mid-sized institution of higher learning. Although the emergency transition faced by institutions around the world has been criticised in the public domain as a mechanism of 'survival' rather than teaching, the self-determination and motivation frameworks do provide the opportunity for high-quality learning within the education space. Thus, although not ideal, the emergency transition to a virtual learning environment in the Spring 2020 semester provided opportunities for institutions to innovate their course delivery mechanisms while still working to serve their campus communities.

Keywords: higher education; COVID-19 emergency; virtual transition; pandemic learning; self-determination; motivation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTEL.2026.155142

International Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning, 2026 Vol.18 No.3, pp.376 - 405

Received: 13 Jan 2025
Accepted: 15 Feb 2025
Published online: 28 Jul 2026 *

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