Determinants in Student Satisfaction with Online Learning: A Survey Study of Second-Year Students at Private Universities in HCMC

Due to the development of technology and the outbreak of COVID-19, many higher education institutions have employed online learning as a measure to the urgent situation. However, the sudden shift to complete online learning has a considerable impact on students. Therefore, maintaining student satisfaction with their learning experience is a significant issue for the stakeholders. From scientific perspectives, many researchers propose the importance of identifying factors influencing student satisfaction. Although many studies are dealing with this issue, few have succeeded in identifying determinants in student satisfaction with online learning in which online learning is a part of the school ecosystem. This research aimed at tackling this problem in the context of private universities in Ho Chi Minh city. Notably, 317 students from two private universities were involved in this survey study. The data were collected via online questionnaires and analyzed by using the PLS-SEM approach to examine which factors found in the literature were more dominant. The research findings indicated three determinants, including course effectiveness, providing knowledge and skills, and the sense of belonging. This result suggested that in order to increase student satisfaction with online learning in the current situation, these three determinants should be paid more attention by the stakeholders.

International Graduate Students’ Experiences of English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) Courses in a Korean University

Owing to to the internalization of higher education, many universities in East Asia provide English as a medium of instruction (EMI) courses for international students. However, previous studies may not have strategically explored the perception of EMI courses for graduate programmes. Recognizing the gap in the literature, this study specifically focused on international graduate students' experiences of EMI courses in a Korean university. By implementing a mixed-method design, this study explored English language learnes’ (ELLs) perceptions of EMI courses regarding i) ELLs’ opinions on the effectiveness of EMI courses, ii) ELLs' attitudes towards EMI, and iii) their self-evaluation of English language ability. Data collection consisted of an end of the semester survey (n=70) and focus group interviews (n=9). The study results showed that i) ELLs showed positive attitudes towards EMI courses; ii) they perceived that the faculty's teaching methods are the core element to EMI course effectiveness; iii) their listening and reading skills were enhanced, and iv) ELLs with low English proficiency found EMI courses challenging to follow. Based on these results, several pedagogical implications are discussed regarding how to implement EMI courses effectively for diverse international students in ELT.

COVID-19 Effects on Communication Course and Faculty Evaluations

Student evaluations of teaching (SETs) are utilized by universities as one component in assessing course effectiveness, despite evidence in the research regarding their validity. With the global COVID-19 pandemic, many universities rapidly transitioned teaching modalities from face-to-face to online learning, regardless of the faculty experience. This study investigates the effects on SETs of the rapid transition in teaching modalities for all sections of courses occurring during COVID-19 compared with all sections of courses taught within a Communication department at a large public research university over the past 8 years. The results indicate moderate effects from the rapid transition to online learning.

Students’ Perceptions of the Effectiveness of Online Distance Language Teaching in Higher Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The present study examined the relation between students’ preferred mode of learning (online, face-to-face, and hybrid) and their opinions about the effectiveness of an online distance learning English language course under the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. The students favoring online distance learning constituted a significantly smaller proportion of the group versus those in favor of face-to-face instruction (p = 0.004). A significant relation was established between the students’ preferred mode of education and their opinions about the course effectiveness (p < 0.001). The students whose preferred form of education was compatible with online distance learning rated the course effectiveness at 93%, those favoring face-to-face education at 58%, and the supporters of hybrid education at 81%. Students’ comments and suggestions for the teaching practice in the post epidemic time are discussed.

Measuring Student Involvement When Taking Tests in E-learning Courses

The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has significantly affected the education process of young people in primary, secondary, and tertiary education, as well as those who improve their competences through various courses and trainings. The practically incessant lockdown in education has resulted in a situation in which distance learning, which most often plays a supplementary role, now constitutes the basic form of education. This situation has forced the selection and adaptation of the available e-learning tools to the types of classes and levels of education. Despite great progress in the development of e-learning technologies, constant stimulation and maintenance of students’ interest in the content presented and monitoring their activity still pose a problem, which also concerns the education of computer science students in issues related to computer graphics. Currently, the preferred model of distance learning is based on various technologies and IT tools that enable the implementation of synchronous and asynchronous work. Prompt acquisition of data on students’ activity allows trainers to adjust the form and content of the presented material to their expectations. It also makes it possible to identify issues that pose great difficulties to students. This paper discusses modern solutions and trends in designing e-learning courses based on the new interactive e-learning platform Quizer. The aim of the research is to determine the course effectiveness using the user activity-monitoring module designed and implemented for the Quizer e-learning platform. The correctness of the answers correlates with the number of attempts to answer it (−0.65). The time devoted to a given question was usually high for questions with low correctness of answers.

Teaching with Relevance: Saudi Students’ Perceptions of a Foundation Course in Communication Skills

This study explores undergraduate students' perceptions of a foundation-year communication skills course at a large public university in Saudi Arabia from the aspects of perceived course effectiveness and relevance using a cross-sectional survey research design. The survey yielded scaled and short-answer responses, which were then analyzed using statistical and thematic analyses. The results revealed that first-year undergraduate students (n=209) in this study perceive communication skills as important for their future career and in major areas of their lives, and consider being a ’good’ communicator as part of their cultural and religious heritage. Participants further define communication skills as predominantly an oral, information transfer that builds relationships with others from interpersonal and intercultural aspects. The findings also revealed disagreement and uncertainty about the communication course focus and requirement, relevance of course assignments and materials, and language of instruction. Recommendations for teaching communication skills with relevance in this context include explicit, focused communication instruction, student-centered practical activities with cultural relevance, and, moving forward, coursework that integrates the communication discipline with the needs of the students’ academic fields. Future research in this area could enhance teaching communication skills in the Saudi context and lead to more relevant instruction that could positively impact students in their professional lives.

The Impact of a Mathematics Bridging Intervention on the Inclusivity of a University Economics Programme

The inclusivity of all students in the University Economics programme is in danger due to a high failure rate in the first-year mathematics course. This study investigates whether participation in a bridging course, and what aspects of it, can contribute to equal opportunities and increased inclusivity in the Mathematics for Economists course, and henceforth reduce the failure rate. It adds to the meager European literature on remedial course effectiveness. Through the use of ordinary least square regression analyses, a significant positive effect of participation in the bridging course was found for the student group as a whole. Furthermore, the results indicated that participation was particularly valuable for the least mathematically prepared students.

Teaching English Grammar in a Hybrid Academic ESL Course

This study investigates whether hybrid instruction can positively affect the development of learners' knowledge of English grammar and editing skills, as well as whether learners have positive perceptions of the hybrid design. The study was conducted in two sections of an English grammar and editing skills class. One section was designed as a hybrid course while the other was a traditional face-to-face (f2f) class. To determine the effectiveness of hybrid instruction, a quasi-experimental design with a pre- and posttest was used. To investigate learner perceptions of the hybrid design, learners were asked to complete a questionnaire and participate in a focus group. The results indicate that after the treatment there were negligible differences between the two groups in terms of their knowledge of English grammar and editing skills. The learners had positive perceptions of the hybrid design and offered some suggestions for improving course effectiveness.