Improving Student Engagement and Behavioural Outcomes via Persistence among Distance Learners (Meningkatkan penglibatan pelajar dan hasil tingkah laku melalui kegigihan dalam kalangan pelajar jarak jauh)

Norizan Baba Rahim

Abstract


Student engagement assists distance learners gain specific skills and to realise the worth of their rewarding educational experience. However, if persistence is not adequately present, the distance learners might quit an online course. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between online student engagement towards student satisfaction and learning outcomes and to examine the moderating effect of persistence between online student engagement towards student satisfaction and learning outcomes. The research model was tested upon engagement theory as an underlying theory to support the research framework. Purposive sampling technique was used to collect data via online survey questionnaires for three weeks. The research hypotheses are examined through correlation and path analysis of 321 distance learners from one of the public universities in Malaysia using Partial Least Square (PLS) 3.0. Results of analysis demonstrated that persistence was found to moderate the relationship between online student engagement towards student satisfaction and learning outcomes. This finding implies that distance learners who commit themselves to a goal will highly likely persist, and the more courses a student finishes, the closer he or she will be to graduating. Based on the results, this research suggests the management of Malaysian distance education institutions to create rapport between online programme staff and distance learners at an early stage. Additionally, online programmes must promote and establish support networks for distance learners to resolve personal or professional difficulties in improving retention and preventing them from dropping out of online programmes.

Keywords: Online student engagement; persistence; student satisfaction; behavioural outcomes; learning outcomes

                                                                                                     

Abstract 

 

Penglibatan pelajar membantu pelajar jarak jauh memperolehi kemahiran khusus dan menyedari nilai pengalaman pendidikan mereka yang bermanfaat. Walau bagaimanapun, jika kegigihan tidak hadir dengan cukup, pelajar jarak jauh mungkin berhenti dari kursus dalam talian. Oleh itu, kajian ini bertujuan untuk menyelidiki hubungan antara penglibatan pelajar dalam talian terhadap kepuasan pelajar dan hasil pembelajaran, dan untuk mengkaji kesan penyederhanaan antara penglibatan pelajar dalam talian terhadap kepuasan pelajar dan hasil pembelajaran. Model kajian diuji berdasarkan teori penglibatan sebagai teori dasar untuk menyokong rangka kerja penyelidikan. Teknik pensampelan purposif digunakan untuk mengumpul data melalui soal selidik secara atas talian selama tiga minggu. Hipotesis kajian dikaji melalui korelasi dan analisis jalur 321 pelajar jarak jauh dari salah sebuah universiti awam di Malaysia menggunakan Partial Least Square (PLS) 3.0. Hasil analisis menunjukkan kegigihan didapati dapat memoderasi hubungan antara penglibatan pelajar dalam talian terhadap kepuasan pelajar dan hasil pembelajaran. Penemuan ini menunjukkan bahawa pelajar jarak jauh yang mengikat diri pada suatu tujuan kemungkinan besar akan berterusan, dan semakin banyak kursus yang diselesaikan oleh pelajar, semakin hampir dia akan lulus. Berdasarkan hasilnya, penyelidikan ini menyarankan pengurusan institusi pendidikan jarak jauh Malaysia untuk menjalinkan hubungan antara staf program dalam talian dengan pelajar jarak jauh diperingkat awal. Selain itu, program dalam talian mesti mempromosi dan mewujudkan rangkaian sokongan untuk pelajar jarak jauh untuk menyelesaikan masalah peribadi atau profesional dalam meningkatkan pengekalan serta untuk mengelakkan daripada berhenti dari program dalam talian.

Kata kunci: Penglibatan pelajar dalam talian; kegigihan; kepuasan pelajar; hasil tingkah laku; hasil pembelajaran.

 


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