Effect of Online Learning Environment on Behavioral Changes and Academic Performance of Children in Pre – Adolescence

Abstract

The evolution of education paradigms in the new millennium has been influenced by the rapid integration of technology in learning environment worldwide, with Sri Lanka being a notable e x c e p t i o n until recent times. The global pandemic triggered an unprecedented shift in Sri Lanka’s educational landscape demanding a rapid transition from traditional classroom learning environment to online learning environment in 2020 as a resolution to the island-wide lockdown process. Very little was known about its effectiveness and challenges, although the process has become widely popular and mandatory in the system of education in the country. This paper aims to explore the impact of online learning environment on behavioral changes and the academic development of children in pre -adolescence. A survey questionnaire was administered to 120 participants studying in the Badulla educational zone to collectdata related to the study. The study adopted a subjective approach and analyzed quantitative measures of academic performance using Partial Least Square - Structural Equation Modelling (PLS - SEM) among pre -adolescent students engaged in an online learning environment. Findings of the study suggested that the online learning environment has a positive impact on both behavioral changes and the academicperformance of pre-adolescent students. The process has been empirically evaluated as an effective strategy for both learners and teachers to enhance their knowledge and skills in accomplishing intended academic goals in the new millennium. The study also demonstrated that the process fosters learner autonomy and motivates them to be authentically engaged in academic activities even though it bringschallenges in social interaction and emotional well-being. These insights underscore the significance of educators and policy makers to design online curricula that not only promote academic achievement but also nurture the holistic development of pre-adolescent children during their critical formative stage.