Students’ perceptions on distance education: A multinational study

Abstract Many universities offer Distance Education (DE) courses and programs to address the diverse educational needs of students and to stay current with advancing technology. Some Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) that do not offer DE find it difficult to navigate through the steps that are...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Patricia Fidalgo, Joan Thormann, Oleksandr Kulyk, José Alberto Lencastre
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2020-05-01
Series:International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41239-020-00194-2
Description
Summary:Abstract Many universities offer Distance Education (DE) courses and programs to address the diverse educational needs of students and to stay current with advancing technology. Some Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) that do not offer DE find it difficult to navigate through the steps that are needed to provide such courses and programs. Investigating learners’ perceptions, attitudes and willingness to try DE can provide guidance and recommendations for IHEs that are considering expanding use of DE formats. A survey was distributed to undergraduate students in Portugal, UAE and Ukraine. The results of this pilot study showed that in all three countries, students’ major concerns about such programs were time management, motivation, and English language skills. Although students were somewhat apprehensive many indicated they were interested in taking DE courses. Six recommendations informed by interpretation of students’ responses and the literature, are offered to assist institutions who want to offer DE as part of their educational strategy.
ISSN:2365-9440