Effectiveness of E-Learning: Interactive Communication Satisfaction among University Students

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Acknowledgement

I would like to take this chance for thanking my research facilitator, friends & family for support they provided & their belief in me as well as guidance they provided without which I would have never been able to do this research.

DECLARATION

I, (Your name), would like to declare that all contents included in this thesis/dissertation stand for my individual work without any aid, & this thesis/dissertation has not been submitted for any examination at academic as well as professional level previously. It is also representing my very own views & not essentially which are associated with university.

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Abstract

The delivery of courses over the Internet (online) is becoming very popular. Online courses are appearing for industry, general interest and for education allowing university students to take courses online. Universities now offer complete degree programs online. Numerous university instructors now use some form of online learning in the delivery of their courses. This study explores the experience of students taking online courses at a university. This research will assist instructors at university in the development and delivery of their online courses, web-assisted, so that students' learning experiences will be enhanced.

This study used both qualitative and quantitative methods to explore students' responses to their online learning experience. Questionnaires were e-mailed to all students enrolled in seven online courses offered, with a return rate of 33%. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were held with students. The results of the study indicate that the students believed that the students had a positive learning experience while taking their online course.

The study revealed important benefits of online learning for students including flexibility, convenience, accessibility, interactivity, and effective communication via Moodle. The findings also indicated that students believe in the importance of online course offerings.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION8

Background8

Operational Definition12

Current State of Web Based Learning Portal- Moodle15

Paradigm Shift of Interactive Communication and Disparity in E-Learning18

Theoretical Framework30

Rationale of the Study37

Problem Statement38

Research Aim and Objectives39

Research Questions39

Significance of the Study40

Limitations of the Study42

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW45

Approach of the study45

Underpinning Interactive Communication in Education System45

Pedagogical theories for e-learning58

E-learning and its effectiveness74

Web based learning portal88

Interactive learning and user satisfaction of interactivity91

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY126

Research Design126

Setting127

Sample130

Instruments131

Procedure and Data Analysis132

Student Demographics134

CHAPTER 4 RESULTS & DISCUSSION136

Questionnaire Results136

Interviews with Students155

Discussion161

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION165

Conclusion165

Recommendations166

REFERENCES169

APPENDIX A199

APPENDIX B207

Chapter 1: Introduction

Background

With the enormous potential of the Internet as an instructional teaching and learning tool and the availability of Internet access for students and instructors, web-based courses and web-assisted courses are becoming increasingly available through universities (Bee & Usip, 1998; Driscoll, 1998; Khan, 1997; Juliano, 1997). Our changing society now requires learning through an entire lifetime to keep up with changing job requirements (Driscoll, 1998; Howland & Moore, 2002; Jones, 2000; Wilson & Lowry, 2000). The World Wide Web (WWW) has provided adult learners with one means of access to lifelong learning. Since this is a relatively new teaching environment, research is required to explore issues related to web-based courses and online learning. Some of these issues include: how does an instructor design and deliver a course ...