Enhancing Students' Online Engagement: A Study on Online Distance Learning Institutions' Students

Author(s):  
Zahir Osman ◽  
Ratna Khuzaimah Mohamad ◽  
Liana Mohamad

Objective - This study evaluates the direct relationships among online learning attitude, online peer collaboration, psychological motivation, digital readiness, and online engagement among students in Malaysia's online distance learning (ODL) higher education institutions. Methodology/Technique - The structural Equation Model (SEM) method was employed to evaluate the direct influence of online learning attitude, online peer collaboration, and psychological motivation on digital readiness and the direct influence of digital readiness on online engagement. The model was developed based on the conceptual development and subsequently analysed using the Partial Least Square (PLS) technique on 391 data acquired during the survey. Finding - The outcomes from the statistical data analysis have clearly shown that the online learning attitude, online peer collaboration, and psychological motivation have positively and significantly influence digital readiness. Novelty - The model of this study is the first model been used by utilising Smart-Pls version3 for data analysis to study students' engagement in ODL higher institutions in Malaysia. Type of Paper - Empirical Keywords: Online Learning Attitude; Online Peer Collaboration; Psychological Motivation; Digital Readiness and Online Engagement. JEL Classification: 120

Author(s):  
Zahir Osman (Dr) ◽  
Ratna Khuzaimah Mohamad ◽  
Liana Mohamad

Online Distance Learning (ODL) settings in higher education institutions assist in allocating resources of education, facilitating instructor-to-student interaction, supporting student learning groups, maintaining the progression of student learning, and allowing students to enroll ODL learning (Islam, 2013). Students' online learning exposures in universities and colleges tend to be combined with academic exposures for the continuous learning progress not because only related to academic accomplishment, but also due to individual success of lifelong learning. The online learning setting tertiary education institutions is a learning environment that puts together the latest digital technology with the practices of teaching and learning as important creativity and innovation through the latest performed-technology platform (Eze, Chinedu-Eze, & Bello, 2018). The advantages of online learning settings for both the students and higher education institutions are significant cost saving of having physical infrastructure of teaching and learning, cause the course materials digitization where it can be shared and retrieved at any time and wherever the students are and embedding into the global educational setting (Pham, Limbu, Bui, Nguyen, & Pham, 2019). Malaysia is aiming to become a developed country and has set a long term vision for that to be realized. This aim can only be achieved by producing high technological skills and a critical thinking workforce. Information communication technology (ICT) will be the main catalyst in leading this transformation. In an online learning environment, engagement has become one of the critical issues for the students. Since the trend today of migrating from the face-to-face classroom to web-based systems, some challenges need to be resolved. In fully online learning, there is 78% of students fail in completing their online courses (Simpson, 2010). Students' failures in online courses were mainly due to their inactive engagement (Kuzilek, Hlosta, Herrmannova, Zdrahal, & Wolff, 2015). Halverson, Graham, Spring, Drysdale, and Henrie (2014) in their thematic analysis have found the term engagement been mentioned in more than fifty per cent of the reviewed publications. Thus, this study aims to assess the direct influence of online learning attitude, online peer collaboration, and psychological motivation on digital readiness and digital readiness influence on online engagement. Keywords: Online Learning Attitude, Online Peer Collaboration, Psychological Motivation, Digital Readiness and Online Engagement.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheuk Fan Ng

Online distance learning is offered not only in post-secondary distance education institutions but in traditional universities as well. With advances in mobile and wireless technologies, completing academic studies anywhere anytime should become feasible. Research in distance education and online learning has focused on computer-mediated communication, instructional design, learner characteristics, educational technology, and learning outcomes. However, little attention has been given to where exactly learners do their learning and studying and how the physical and social aspects of the physical environment within which the online learner is physically embedded (e.g., the home) supports and constrains learning activities. In this paper, the author proposes a conceptual model for understanding the role that the physical environment plays in online distance learning in higher education, drawing on theories and research in environmental psychology, online learning, telework and mobile work, and higher education. Several gaps in research are identified, and suggestions for future research are proposed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-159
Author(s):  
Nur Hayati

In an effort to suppress the spread of the Covid-19 virus, Kemdikbud took a policy to close schools during the Covid-19 pandemic. All schools that initially did conventional learning by face-to-face, now learning is done from home through distance learning or online system, no exception pondok pesantren. The purpose of this research is to find out the distance learning process conducted by Pondok Pesantren Darunnajah 2 Cipining, Bogor. This research was conducted using descriptive qualitative approach. Based on research can be known that in learning, pesantren use various platforms such as google classroom, google meet, whatsapp, and smart system. In this online learning, the materials and tasks given are quite diverse, although there are no tasks in the form of discussions so that the interaction between students and students and teachers cannot be done. All parties, both students, teachers, and parents experienced a culture shock with the existence of this distance learning system / online. Distance learning /online also gives rise to physical distancing. Religious activities that are usually carried out in pesantren are now carried out at home and all must be reported to the teacher or room guardian via whatsapp. The challenges faced in online learning include a lack of interaction between teachers and students, a network that arises to sink, quotas that are rapidly depleted and expensive, and a lack of active participation of students. Therefore, the readiness of both teachers and students, as well as motivation from parents can also support the implementation of this distance learning process. In addition, the provision of quotas is also important to support the online learning process carried out by pesantren.


Author(s):  
Jane Klobas ◽  
Ciro Sementina ◽  
Stefano Renzi

In many countries, healthcare professionals are required to participate annually in compulsory continuing medical education (CME). The effort involved in providing wide-scale training led the Italian Ministry of Health to support pilot courses using online distance learning. This article reports the results of a short survey which aimed to gauge the potential of online CME for nurses in Italy. Most of the 152 respondents, all of whom had completed an online course, supported the inclusion of some form of collaborative learning. Three possible market segments for online learning emerged from the study: nurses who prefer to study alone, those who would appreciate collaborative activities well-integrated into course design, and those who would prefer courses that include online collaboration of any kind. The authors conclude that online learning is a suitable mode for enabling participation in CME for accreditation, but caution that further research is required to confirm that the preferences of nurses who have experienced online distance learning are shared by those who have not.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 208-217
Author(s):  
Tenika Illananingtyas

The Indonesian government is currently facing a Covid-19 pandemic that is still beyond its control. From print media to electronic media, the mass media continues to report on the number of victims infected with this virus, and the number is declining. One of the predictive steps to prevent the spread of this virus is to maintain social distancing. As a formal educational institution, the school responded quickly to this situation. The school does not hope that by changing the face-to-face learning mode, the virus will spread in its environment. I.e. through distance learning or online learning (online). Therefore, this is the task of the teacher, that is, to be able to create various activities in online learning that can attract students' interest in learning. Especially learning English requires not only theory, but also a lot of practice. Therefore, interactive learning in the form of activities is required to allow students to actively participate in the online learning process. This research aims to obtain important information about the effectiveness of online distance learning (PJJ) for primary schools in Kediri City. The research methods used descriptive qualitative methods to 20 respondents. According to the analysis data, the research results show that online distance learning for elementary schools is considered to be quite effective.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 220
Author(s):  
Muhammad Faizal Samat ◽  
Nur Amalina Awang ◽  
Siti Nor Adawiah Hussin ◽  
Farahiyah Akmal Mat Nawi

World Health Organization declared the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 to be a pandemic on March 12, 2020. In response to that, Malaysia has announced movement control order effective on March 18, 2020, leading to the near-total closures of education center. University closures impact not only students, lecturers, and families, but have far-reaching economic and societal consequences. In response to that, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) has introduced the use of online distance learning and open educational applications and platforms that lecturers can use to reach learners remotely and limit the disruption of education. Even though UiTM has already adopted the integrated face-to-face and online learning approach in the classroom since many years ago, however, the commencement of solely using online learning platform, in the absence of face-to-face meetings is challenging. In addition, it is also crucial to note that the previous study on the determinants of the intention and effective use of online distance learning is scarce. Thus, this study seeks to identify the significant relationship between the intention and the effective use of an ODL among the students. Findings from this study reveals that four out of five determinants (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating condition and intrinsic value) found to be significantly relationship with the behavioral intention of the students to use online distance learning. Behavioral intention also was found to be significant with use behavior. Although the intrinsic values (new determinants) has contributed to the theory, it is recommended that the same study will be carry out to the entire of education center, either public or private.   Keywords: Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, Facilitating Condition, Intrinsic Value, Behavior


Author(s):  
Jerri Ward-Jackson ◽  
Chien Yu

Online learning capabilities in K-12 education have changed tremendously in the past years and are continually evolving in the traditional classrooms. The overall growth in the total number of high school students currently taking online distance learning courses as well as the importance of distance learning as a solution to educational challenges has increased the need to study more closely the factors that contribute to distance learning outcomes and success rates in K-12. Therefore, the challenge that emerges for educators, researchers, scholars, and advocates for students is to carefully and effectively join the growth and power of K-12 online learning for the benefit of the students involved. This chapter provides an overview of factors that contribute to learning outcomes and success rates for K-12 distance education. Some of the challenges, issues, and considerations affecting implementation of K-12 online education are discussed.


10.28945/2661 ◽  
2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn McLellan ◽  
Mark Stansfield

Within many educational institutions across the world, the delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate courses is being facilitated by online learning technologies. The development and transformation of academic courses for online learning delivery provides a number of opportunities for both the academic institution and prospective students. However, there are a number of important issues that need to be addressed if online learning is to contribute to the educational experience of the student in a positive way and actually enhance teaching and learning as compared with more traditional face-to-face delivery. This paper describes the process of transforming a Masters course in the Management of eBusiness offered by the University of Paisley from a distance learning to an online distance learning course. The paper will identify the main educational theories that informed and influenced the development of the online course as well as identify the main lessons learnt from evaluating the course which has now been running for a number of years. The lessons learnt will be of interest to many people involved in the development and running of online learning courses.


2021 ◽  
Vol XII (3 (36)) ◽  
pp. 155-168
Author(s):  
Karolina Walczak - Człapińska ◽  
Gabriela Dobińska ◽  
Katarzyna Okólska

The article presents a reconstruction of crisis coping strategies adopted by academics during the changes in higher education resulting from the SARS-Cov-2 virus pandemic. This analysis is part of a wider research project entitled “Academic Education during the Covid-19 Pandemic.” In our research, we used a focus interview to learn about e-learning experiences of lecturers and students. Due to limitations in face-to-face meetings, the interviews were conducted via the Microsoft Teams application, which significantly improved the process of consolidating the empirical material. Academic teachers from various research centers in Poland participated in the research. An important point in the team data analysis was the clear presence of community in the strategies undertaken by online distance learning at universities.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document