Students` Satisfaction with Online Courses Research Paper

Students` Satisfaction with Online Courses - Research Paper Example and is there a correlation between the frequency of student and instructor interaction and student’s satisfaction of online courses? A quantitative research will be conducted to answer these questions. The research affirms that there is a direct correlation between the frequency of student-Instructor interaction and students’ satisfaction in online courses. Keywords: nursing, students’ satisfaction, online/e-learning. Section 1 Background of the Study The effects and influences of rapid technological developments permeate all facets of human interactions in contemporary society. It continues to redefine and reshape the manner in which society addresses issues and concerns relevant to its contemporary condition. In this regard, the landscape of education is undergoing a radical transformation as new technologies emerge (Skiba, Connors and Jeffries, 2008). In effect, one of the most obvious changes happening is the democratization of learning (Dolence and Norris, 1 995). Information technology enables people to access to knowledge and information available anytime, while at the same time, allowing for learning services to be provided by non-traditional learning institutions (Skiba et al., 2008). As such, developments in information technology create new paradigms in the content of knowledge, knowledge management and knowledge acquisition (Norris, 1995). This context creates an impetus for education in general and nursing education in particular to adapt to the demands of technological changes as education continues its evolution and become globalised (Skiba et al., 2008; Suarez-Orozco and Qin-Hilliard, 2004). In addition, the demand for the integration of information technology in nursing education is not only driven by technological developments, but it is also motivated by the increasing demand for nurses to have competence in information technology as it is necessary in the efficient discharge and management of care services to the patients (Mitchell et al., 2007). However, online/e-learning is not only about placing the modules and lectures in the web or conducting lectures through web (Murray, 2003). It requires the consideration of many factors such as information technology experience both of the teacher and students, socio-economic status, learning styles, teaching styles, skills and confidence in using information technology, technical support and other similar concerns (Cragg et al., 2003; Mitchell et al., 2007; Smith, 2002). In this regard, e- learning is a complex evolution in nursing education. As such, understanding nursing student’s satisfaction in online/e-learning may provide an opportunity to enhance both the nursing education and nursing practice. Purpose of the Study The primary purpose of this study is to gain information regarding students’ satisfaction in on-line courses in Nursing. This study is motivated by the intention of developing of online courses that are responsive not only t o the challenges of technology to nursing education, but also to the demands of technology to the nursing profession. Likewise, the study can help in determining the effectiveness of online courses from students’ perspective through knowing their satisfaction with the online courses. As such, opening the possibility for the meeting between technology and advantages of technology in healthcare, this until now, seems to be obscure (Booth et