Perceptions of Online Learning in an Australian University: An International Students’ (Asian Region) Perspective – Quality of Learning
Several researchers have reported that cultural and language differences can affect online interactions and communications between students from different cultural backgrounds. Other researchers have asserted that online learning is a tool that can improve teaching and learning skills, but its...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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International Academy Publishing
2013
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| Online Access: | http://eprints.intimal.edu.my/769/ http://eprints.intimal.edu.my/769/1/Perceptions%20of%20Online%20Learning%20in%20an%20Australian%20University%20An%20International%20Students%27%20%28Asian%20Region%29%20Perspective%20-%20Enjoyment.pdf |
| Summary: | Several researchers have reported that cultural
and language differences can affect online interactions and
communications between students from different cultural
backgrounds. Other researchers have asserted that online
learning is a tool that can improve teaching and learning skills,
but its effectiveness depends on how the tool is used. To delve
into these aspects further, this study set out to investigate the
kinds of learning difficulties encountered by the international
students and how they actually coped with online learning. The
modified Online Learning Environment Survey (OLES)
instrument was used to collect data from the sample of 109
international students at a university in Brisbane. A smaller
group of 35 domestic students was also included for comparison
purposes. Contrary to assumptions from previous research, the
findings revealed that there were only few differences between
the international Asian and Australian students with regards to
their perceptions of online learning. Recommendations based
on the findings of this research study were made for Australian
universities where Asian international students study online.
Specifically the recommendations highlighted the importance of
upskilling of lecturers’ ability to structure their teaching online
and to apply strong theoretical underpinnings when designing
learning activities such as discussion forums, and for the
university to establish a degree of consistency with regards to
how content is located and displayed in a learning management
system like Blackboard. |
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