Evaluating the Online Learning Experience at Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

In light of recent COVID-19 pandemic, universities had to cope by resorting to online learning without previous preparation. This paper tries to investigate student satisfaction with online learning. The literature review identified seven factors that influence satisfaction (quality, interaction, information technology, academic experience, comprehension, student support, and assessment), with four demographic factors (grade point average [GPA], gender, nationality, and major classification). All variables were significant predictors of satisfaction except assessment. Only GPA was a significant predictor among the four demographic factors. Mean comparisons on the level of satisfaction indicated that there was no difference between females and males, nationals possessed higher levels of satisfaction, and non-STEM students possessed higher satisfaction level. The study utilized a sample of 2,354 students from a public university in the Gulf Region. The coefficient of determination for the regression model was 0.723. Conclusions and implications are reported at the end of the paper.