A Reflection on the Electronic Learning Culture of Payame Noor University Students: Findings of a Mixed-Method Study

Abstract

Purpose: The growth and development of information and communication technology had a great impact on teaching and learning in educational organizations and accordingly, research on them is necessary to improve the current situation. Therefore, the present research was conducted with the aim of reflection on the electronic learning culture of Payam Noor University students. Methodology: This study in terms of purpose was applied and in terms of implementation method was mixed (qualitative and quantitative). The population of research qualitative part was the faculty members of Payam Noor University of Lorestan province in the 2021-2 academic years, which according to the theoretical saturation principle number of 20 people of them were selected with using purposive and snowball sampling methods. They underwent semi-structured interviews, which its validity was confirmed by the triangulation method and its reliability was obtained by the Cohen's kappa coefficient method 0.80. The population of research quantitative part was the students of Payam Noor of Lorestan province in the 2021-2 academic years, which according to the Cochran formula number of 270 people of them were selected with using the cluster random sampling method. They responded to a researcher-made questionnaire, which its face validity was confirmed by experts' opinions and all components reliability was obtained by the Cronbach's alpha method 0.96. In the present study, in order to analyze the data of qualitative part were used the coding method in MAXQDA software and in order to analyze the data of quantitative part were used the exploratory factor analysis, one-sample t-test and Friedman test in SPSS software. Findings: The findings of the qualitative part showed that the electronic learning culture of Payam Noor University students had 30 indicators in 6 components, including competency-based educational goals, facilitating professor, responsible learner, collaborative and research-based learning, educational interaction and qualitative evaluation and providing immediate and descriptive feedback. The findings of the quantitative part showed that all indicators of electronic learning culture of Payam Noor University students had a factor loading higher than 0.40 and their reliability with using Cronbach's alpha was higher than 0.60. Also, the average of all 6 components of competency-based educational goals, facilitating professor, responsible learner, collaborative and research-based learning, educational interaction and qualitative evaluation and providing immediate and descriptive feedback was higher than the hypothetical average of the community (P<0.001). In addition, the priorities of the components of the electronic learning culture of Payam Noor University students were included qualitative evaluation and providing immediate and descriptive feedback, educational interaction, responsible learner, collaborative and research-based learning, facilitating professor and competency-based educational goals, respectively (P<0.001). Conclusion: According to the results of the present research, in order to improve the electronic learning culture of Payam Noor University students can be prepared the ground to improve and promote the components of the electronic learning culture of Payam Noor University students, including qualitative evaluation and providing immediate and descriptive feedback, educational interaction, responsible learner, collaborative and research-based learning, facilitating professor and competency-based educational goals.