Relationship between Participation in the Webinar and Students’ Behaviours and Engagement in Online Learning

• Main Author: Wong, Sze Ki Agnes
• Other Authors: Woodruff, Earl
• Language: en_ca
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: Online learning; Behaviours; Engagement; Webinar; 0710
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1807/32509

A graduate level Flex Mode course “Introduction to Computers in Education” using online learning concept, which includes the discourse environment and the webinars, was investigated in the current study. Twenty one students enrolled in the course in fall 2010. Since the design of this course is new and in its experimental stage, this study explored how webinar participation predicts students’ behaviours and engagement in online learning, and the experiences and perspectives of students who take this course. Data retrieved from the course database show that webinar participation correlated significantly with the engagement construct (about reading and writing online). Results from the questionnaire suggest that students were satisfied with both the webinar and online discussion components of the course. Interview findings indicate that students credit the webinar with helping them feel more connected to their classmates. Implications for the design of online learning program will be discussed.