Research Article
Alfiya R. Masalimova, Marina R. Zheltukhina, Olga V. Sergeeva, Zhanna M. Sizova, Philipp N. Novikov, Albina R. Sadykova
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 16, Issue 1, Article No: ep488
ABSTRACT
The proliferation of technology and the heightened significance of e-learning in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic transformed the perspectives and attitudes of educational stakeholders toward educational technology. The objective of this research was to explore the attitudes of higher education students toward e-learning. Data collection was conducted via a questionnaire. The findings demonstrated that the key benefit of e-learning, as reported by a substantial majority (77.0%) of participants, is the convenience of studying from home. This is closely followed by the advantage of learning at one’s own pace, as 69.4% of respondents expressed. A considerable proportion (58.8%) highlighted the comfort factor associated with e-learning, along with the cost-saving aspect of reduced expenses on accommodation and transportation. Other advantages included the ability to access course materials remotely (57.6%) option to record meetings online (51.1%), regarding disadvantages of e-learning, the majority (59.4%) of respondents indicated that e-learning limits interaction with others, followed by social isolation (44.1%), lack of self-discipline (43.5%), internet problems (43.5%). The results showed that e-learning was perceived to be less effective compared to conventional face-to-face learning. Also, we showed that, in general, there is no significant relationship between socio-demographic variables and attitudes toward e-learning. Only a few significant relationships were found regarding demographic variables on attitudes. We made educational implications for the next studies on our results.
Keywords: higher education students, university students, undergraduate students, e-learning, attitudes
Research Article
Leila Karimi, Rouhollah Khodabandelou, Maryam Ehsani, Muhammad Ahmad
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 5, Issue 1, pp. 53-72
ABSTRACT
Drawing from the Uses and Gratifications Theory, this study examined the Gratification Sought and the Gratification Obtained from using Social Networking Sites among Iranian, Malaysian, British, and South African higher education students. This comparison allowed to drawing conclusions about how social networking sites fulfill users’ needs with different cultures. Data were collected through a quantitative study applying online and paper- based questionnaire carried out in 2013, using a representative sample (N=320). Findings showed differences in students’ motivation to join to and to use of social network sites in each country. Interestingly, the researchers found that cultural differences may determine the uses and gratifications of social networking sites.
Keywords: Uses and Gratification Theory, Social Networking Sites, Higher education students, Motivation