scholarly journals Measuring the Quality of Student Support Services in Open Distance E-Learning

Author(s):  
Tsige GebreMeskel Aberra

Student support services are essential elements in the success of open distance e-learning. These services help students to become competent in achieving their goals. However, the level of the quality of services should be measured so that continuous improvements can be made, which in turn bring about sustainability of positive results. This article takes content validity as its focus in the development of an instrument. By exposing the instrument to 10 experts, items were refined in the form of deletions, additions, and the splitting of double-barrelled items. Experts ratings were analysed through the content validity index for each item, each dimension and the overall instrument. The content validity processes undertaken in this article have resulted in getting a 50-item 5-dimensional instrument. The use of content validity procedures is one of the most recommended methods in securing the validity of an instrument in terms of its involving appropriate items and dimensions.

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (46) ◽  
pp. 105-128
Author(s):  
Muhammad Abdo Muhammad Salim ◽  
Muhammad Omar Al-Sayed Amin ◽  
Mona Abbas Salman Abu Marra

This research aimed to measure the level of quality of academic advising and student support services from the perspective of students of Preparatory Year at the University of Najran. To achieve this, the descriptive analytical method was followed by administering a questionnaire consisting of (37 items) which were distributed over four dimensions (the academic advisor – the quality of the academic support for outstanding and struggling students – the quality of supporting talented and creative students – the quality of complaints and suggestions services). The sample consisted of (300) students selected from among the preparatory year at the University of Najran. The results indicated that the level of quality of academic advising services and student support services was (medium level) with a mean of (2.24). There were statistically significant differences at (α = 0.05) in the level of quality of academic services and student support services according to the level (first-second) in favor of the second level. There were also differences in the level of academic advising and student support services according to student status at (α = 0.05) in favor of struggling students. Results also indicated that there were no statistically significant differences in the students' assessment of the quality of services due to the gender variable. The study concluded that academic advising services need more efforts to improve the quality of services, especially in providing the necessary support to students, as well as the services for gifted and creative students, complaints and suggestions services. The study recommended the need to adopt clear mechanisms for academic advising and student support through which these services can be provided to all student categories and to evaluate the quality of these services. Keywords: academic advising, preparatory year, quality, Najran University.


Author(s):  
Tsige GebreMeskel Aberra ◽  
Johan J. Booyse

This paper focuses on an investigation of the quality of student support services. The latter are important aspects in the development of a whole-person experience in any educational system. In the open distance learning (ODL) mode of education, student support services are even more important as they are the anchors of student success. Based on this, the main purpose of this paper is to observe the possible gaps between students’ expectations (the ideal standard) and their experiences (the perceptions formed) of student support services as provided by the University of South Africa (UNISA). The respondents of this paper were doctoral students of UNISA who live and work in Ethiopia. A multi-dimensional and “standardised” instrument was used as a tool to collect quantitative data. The theoretical framework adopted in analysing the results was the gaps model. Descriptive statistics (means and standard deviations) and dependent t-tests were the statistical tools employed. The findings show that there were gaps between the students’ expectations and experiences along the four dimensions of the instrument, namely Supervision Support, Infrastructure, Administrative Support and Academic Facilitation. It was therefore recommended that UNISA should focus on improving the relevant services it gives to its international students.


2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 16-20
Author(s):  
Shraddha Anilkumar ◽  
Shalini Ramdas Lihitkar

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to know the personalized online student support system provided by e-learning centers, to find out academic advice as Student Support Services provided by institution running e-learning programs; to find out career counseling as Student Support Services provided by institution running e-learning programs; to find out technical support as Student Support Services provided by institution running e-learning programs; to find out registration assistance as Student Support Services provided by institution running e-learning programs; to find out methods used for paying fee for e-learning programs for LIS education; and to find out financial aid available for students for e-learning programs in LIS education. Design/methodology/approach – The present study is exploratory in nature. In the study, the attempt was made to explore the Student Support Services provided by e-learning institution. It focuses on the various online Student Support Services. Data collection was made through following methods: through Web pages of related departments; by contacting the departments and by sending questionnaires. Findings – Student Support Services provided by institutions – academic advice: it was observed from Table I that the data were significant (p < 0.05) and that high percentage (60.9 per cent) of universities/institutes provide support systems like academic advice to the students opting LIS courses through e-programs; career counseling: it was observed from Table II that the data were significant (p < 0.05) and that high percentage (60.9 per cent) of universities/institutes provide support systems like career counseling to the students opting LIS courses through e-programs; technical support: it was observed from Table III that 100 per cent universities/institutes provide technical support to the students opting LIS courses through e-programs; and registration assistance: it was observed from Table IV that 100 per cent universities/institutes provide registration assistance support to the students opting LIS courses through e-programs. *Mode of payment of fees for e-learning programs for LIS education: it was apparent from the information (Table V) that mode of payment of fees such as credit card, check and purchase order or money order is available for majority of e-learning courses. *Financial aid available for students for e-learning programs in LIS education: it may be concluded on the basis of the study results (Table VI) that for significantly (p < 0.05) high percentage of LIS courses, the financial aid is not available. Research limitations/implications – The research work, especially Student Support Services, was limited to only 23 institutions which are running courses in LIS education by e-learning technology. Practical implications – The present study shows that there is a need to strengthen more Student Support Services. The successful implementation of such a system would need efforts by the concerned management of the institutions and substantial support from the apex statutory organizations. The stakeholders have strongly reinforced the necessity of support strategies which need to start from the time the student enrolls to completion of course. Feedback from students, teachers and researchers should be taken for improving the services. It is useful for those who are running e-learning courses. Social implications – Students who are taken and studying online courses would be aware of Student Support Services. Originality/value – This research work is valuable and original, and no prior research has been identified for Student Support Services for e-learning programs in LIS.


2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sukhdeep Kaur

Various policies have been framed from time to time to uplift the quality of higher education. But policy makers usually miss the key element of higher education that is students. Giving support to students including social and emotional support along with academic support brings awareness in students and can help a lot in enhancing the quality of higher education. The present study has been conducted to evaluate the student support services provided by authorities for improvement in individual as well as in improving the functioning of the institution. Majority of the students were not satisfied with the support system provided to them in higher education institutions. Students demanded regular revision in the curriculum according to the changing needs of the society, preferred knowledge with skills, addition of books in library and good support system for disabled students.


2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-76
Author(s):  
Aijaz Ahmed Gujjar ◽  
◽  
Bushra Naoreen Choudhry ◽  
Amtul Hafeez Choudhry ◽  
◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Neetu Khokhar

The purpose of present investigation is to study the availability of student support services for inclusive education in govt. and non govt. schools. The study was conducted on 50 schools of both types in sonipat distt.of Haryana. Self constucted questionnaire was used for this investigation. t-two tail test assuming equal variances was used for the purpose of ananysis the data the difference between the availability of student support services( physical /infrastructure,madical,teching and evaluation ) in govt and non-govt schools is found to be significant.


2021 ◽  
pp. 026540752110345
Author(s):  
Jordan A. Booker ◽  
Erika Hernandez ◽  
Karen E. Talley ◽  
Julie C. Dunsmore

The college transition involves social challenges for students, including concerns about distance from family and hometown friends, and pressure to build a new social network on campus. Students who are successfully navigating these social challenges should be better adjusted on campus and feel more satisfied with the direction of their lives. We measured two expressions of relatedness in incoming, central US students’ ( N = 244; M age = 18.1 years; 78.6% women) autobiographical recollections of the college transition: (a) dispositional relatedness (DR) and tendencies to emphasize motivations for connecting with others; and (b) situational relatedness (SR) and reflections on successes and challenges within specific relationship domains. We hypothesized that both expressions of relatedness would be positively and distinctly associated with longitudinal reports of college adjustment (i.e., belonging) and subjective well-being (i.e., life satisfaction). We also hypothesized that changes in college adjustment would mediate associations between expressions of relatedness and well-being. Findings broadly supported expectations. Each expression of relatedness robustly predicted better student outcomes longitudinally. Further, improvements in college belonging and decreases in homesickness mediated the ties between situational relatedness and subjective well-being. We discuss the implications of these findings for the college transition and student support services.


Author(s):  
Amanda Carroll-Barefield

As more emphasis is placed on offering education to the distance student and monies are spent to provide these services, institutions must ensure they reap the rewards of the investment. One avenue to ensure success in distance education is the implementation of strong student support services. This is a task that will take the teamwork of educators, administrators, instructional technologists/designers, and support personnel. For institutions transitioning to a distance format, measures must be taken to ensure that the learner, no matter what the method of delivery, has access to equivalent student support services. One approach to measuring this aspect is the determination of student satisfaction with the support services offered to distance students. A study was conducted at a public health sciences research university in the Southeast to determine whether the administrative student support services (library and technical) offered at the institution met the educational needs of allied health students enrolled in a distance education program. Results from student questionnaires were analyzed to determine the satisfaction level of distance students with administrative (library and technical) student support services. Overall responses showed that allied health students enrolled in a distance education program were satisfied with the existing student support services (library and technical) offered by the institution. Narrative responses from the participants reinforced a common theme that although the students were satisfied with the services, more emphasis needed to be placed on library and technical support services that are available to distance education students during the program orientation.


AL-TIJARY ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-60
Author(s):  
Irma Yuliani

This study aims to determine customer perceptions of service quality and products of Kaltimtara Sharia Bank Samarinda Branch. This type of research is field research. The nature of this study is qualitative descriptive by using interviews and questionnaires as data collection techniques. The population in this study are all priority customers of Samarinda Bank Kaltimtara Syariah Branch, amounting to 300 customers, using purposive techniques. sampling, the research sample was 75 respondents and interviews with related parties. The results showed that customer perceptions of service quality and products at Bankaltimtara Syariah Samarinda branch were measured using the CARTER dimension (Compliance, Assurance, Reliability, Tangibles, Emphaty, and Responsiveness). Whereas for products measured through 6 dimensions which include Performance, Features, Realiability, Durability, Conformance to specifications and aesthethic shows positive results which are very good but the things that need to be considered are regarding the need for additional park land specialized and financial consultations to meet priority customer needs. This is in line with the results of interviews with relevant parties that indicate the quality or quality of services and products that are sharia standard and in accordance with the vision and mission of Bankaltimtara Syariah.


2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 461-471
Author(s):  
Mashaalah Zeraati ◽  
Negin Masoudi Alavi

Background and Purpose: Quality of nursing care measurement is essential in critical care units. The aim of this study was to develop a scale to measure the quality of nursing care in intensive care units (ICUs). Methods: The 68 items of nursing care standards in critical care settings were explored in a literature review. Then, 30 experts evaluated the items’ content validity index (CVI) and content validity ratio (CVR). Items with a low CVI score (<0.78) and low CVR score (<0.33) were removed from the scale. Results: The 50 items remained in the scale. The Scale level-CVI and Scale level-CVR were 0.898 and 0.725, respectively. Conclusion: The nursing care scale in ICU (Quality of Nursing Care Scale-ICU) that was developed in this research had acceptable CVI and CVR.


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