Students’ expectations of, and experiences in e-learning: Their relation to learning achievements and course satisfaction

Within only a few years, the use of e-learning has increased rapidly in Austria. In certain subjects, up to 60% of university students report using e-learning platforms at least ‘sometimes’ or ‘frequently’ ( Unger & Wroblewski, 2006). Yet, which aspects of e-learning do students consider importa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Computers and education Vol. 54; no. 1; pp. 222 - 229
Main Authors: Paechter, Manuela, Maier, Brigitte, Macher, Daniel
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier Ltd 2010
Elsevier
Subjects:
Academic Achievement
Austria
College Students
Computer Assisted Instruction
Cooperative Learning
Correlation
e-Learning
Educational Technology
Electronic Learning
Expectations in e-learning
Experiences in e-learning
Faculty Development
Foreign Countries
Instructional Effectiveness
Learner Controlled Instruction
Online learning
Participant Satisfaction
Predictor Variables
Quality criteria for e-learning
Student Attitudes
Student Educational Objectives
Student Motivation
Student Surveys
Austria
e-Learning
Quality criteria for e-learning
Experiences in e-learning
Online learning
Expectations in e-learning
ISSN:0360-1315, 1873-782X
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Summary:Within only a few years, the use of e-learning has increased rapidly in Austria. In certain subjects, up to 60% of university students report using e-learning platforms at least ‘sometimes’ or ‘frequently’ ( Unger & Wroblewski, 2006). Yet, which aspects of e-learning do students consider important for their learning achievements and course satisfaction? This question was addressed by surveying 2196 students from 29 universities in Austria about their expectations of, and experiences in e-learning. Multiple regression analyses using Mplus 4.21 were carried out to investigate how different facets of students’ expectations and experiences are related to perceived learning achievements and course satisfaction. With regard to their expectations, i.e., aspects of a course they consider important, students’ achievement goals were the best predictors for success and ranked higher than other course characteristics. With regard to their experiences, students’ assessments of the instructor’s expertise in e-learning, and her/his counseling and support were the best predictors for learning achievement and course satisfaction. Furthermore, self-regulated and collaborative learning were related to learning achievements. The results of the study suggest to influence students’ motivation and goals by adapting instruction accordingly and emphasize the importance of continuing education and training for the instructors.
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ISSN:0360-1315
1873-782X
DOI:10.1016/j.compedu.2009.08.005