Purpose: This empirical study was carried out to examine predictors of perceived usefulness of the learning management system (LMS) from the viewpoint of distance learning students of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) Islamabad. Design/methodology/approach: This study used a positivist paradigm and a correlation research design. The information…

Persistence in distance learning has become problematic. This quantitative nonexperimental study examined whether perceived connectivity, perceived internal locus of control, and age predict persistence in online master's degree programs. Rotter's locus of control theory, Moore's transactional distance theory, and Rovai's composite persistence…

This study explores academic procrastination among postgraduate distance learners, a topic that has received limited attention. Through qualitative interviews with participants, the authors conducted thematic analysis on their experiences. Three overarching themes emerged: perception, reasons, and reflection of academic procrastination among…

Several factors have been attributed to learners' underachievement in postgraduate programmes. Two of such factors are gender and entry background of postgraduate distance learners which previous studies have identified in isolation of one another. No previous studies have been reported to have investigated a combination of gender and entry…

Communication, motivation, time management, rules and behavior management, plan program activities and physical order are important in the management of virtual classrooms, as they are in the management of traditional classrooms. On the other hand, "sense of classroom community" in online learning environment is classified with…

Many educators are concerned about students' use of WhatsApp for learning purposes, especially in emergency remote teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study applied the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model to examine factors that predict distance students' acceptance of WhatsApp for learning. Correlational…

Due to the of use of ICTs and ODL, Virtual University (VU) has become one of leading distance learning university in Pakistan. However, the retention rate among online learners found considerably low. The primary objective of this research was to dig out determinants of retention of MS/MPhil students at VU and modeling their retention by…

Academic performance of students has always been the area of concern for educational institutions as it is a key indicator of institutional quality. In order to have a better quality output the higher education institutions set some admission criteria such as scores on specified international standardized tests, previous academic qualifications,…

This research study examines academic self-perceptions and course satisfaction among university students and associated factors during virtual classes. A cross-sectional online survey of (n = 328) undergraduate and postgraduate Saudi students who took virtual classes during the second semester of the academic year 2019-2020 and the first semester…

The purpose of the study was to examine graduate student ratings of instruction in order to understand why online ratings are lower than face-to-face ratings. More than 5,000 graduate students rated their instruction in the areas of instructional methods, faculty/student interactions, and assessment of student learning. Results indicated that…

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the sense of community in graduate level distance education programs. This manuscript provides the results of a descriptive analysis of the existing sense of community among students while exploring the most robust prediction model to explain the variation. This cross-sectional analysis included…

The purpose of the study was to predict academic achievement of distance learners from Locus of Control. The study was delimited to teacher education Programs (M.A., M.Ed and B.Ed) offered by universities of Pakistan through distance learning mode. A total number of 1513 students was selected through stratified sampling technique. The Nowicki-Duke…

The aim of this study is to determine the levels of digital citizenship and social presence of the graduate students having distance education and to reveal the relationship between these two variables. The research was carried out with 50 women (35%) and 93 men (65%) graduate students enrolled in distance education master programs of Karadeniz…

Providing effective motivational support is a critical determinant of a successful online distance learning experience for students in higher education. In this study, we examined how students' academic level and use of 8 motivational regulation strategies influence 3 types of student engagement: behavioral engagement, emotional engagement, and…

Master's degree programs have changed dramatically in the past decade. Roughly 785,000 master's degrees were awarded in 2015-16, at a rate of about two master's degrees awarded for every five bachelor's degrees (appendix figure 1). Journalists have touted the master's degree as "the new bachelor's degree"for young workers who want to…